Point prevalence survey of antibiotic use in hospitals in Latin American countries
Authors: Levy Hara Gabriel , Rojas-Cortés Robin , Molina León Helvert Felipe , Dreser Mansilla Anahí , Alfonso Orta Ismary , Rizo-Amezquita José Noe , Santos Herrera René Guillermo , Mendoza de Ayala Silvia , Arce Villalobos Marlen , Mantilla Ponte Hilda , Davila Ever , Aguilar Gloria , Porrás Analía , Ramón-Pardo Pilar , Castro José Luis ,   on behalf of the Latin American Point Prevalent Survey Study Group, Guzmán Daniela , Rioseco María Luisa , Labarca Jaime , Madriz José Pablo Díaz , Cubero Josué Murillo , Calderón Allan Robles , Alfaro Mónica , Soto Luisa Arias , Aayon Alejandro , Oreamuno Tania Jiménez , Jiménez Zulema , Sequeira Adriana , Hernández Jorge Mederos , Lavaut Jorge Luis Campistrous , Meriño Damarys Castillo , Ruisanchez Elsa Fleitas , Sánchez Damaris Portuondo , Garcell Humberto Guanche , Socias Juan José Pisonero , Díaz Evelyn Perera , Lunar Norma America Cardoso , Lancis Irene Fiterre , Ramírez José Antonio Álvarez , Leyte Midsay López , Rosabal Ariadna Méndez , Estrada Ebel Aldana , Cano Mariela , Méndez Leonel , Eiriz Anay Cordero , Menéndez Liana Padrón , Fernández Gladys Fuentes , Ayala Raunel Reyes , Monroy Salomón , Menjívar Ramón , Martínez Carmen Elena Albanez , Cabrera Diana , Delgado Sofía Mercedes Menjivar , Guzmán Gustavo Antonio Molina , Mejía Rafael , Rodríguez Carolina , Alvarenga Sara , Alvarado Mirian , de Zelaya Ruth del Carmen Alvarado , Arévalo Germán , Parada Guillermo , Cuellar Luis , Ruiz Alexis Holguín , Pinedo Yuan Almora , Vergaray Eduardo Sánchez , Gil Luis Enrique Vasquez , Ibazeta Bertha Gizel Injante , Ricra Esther Dina Guadalupe , Segura Rony Estrada , Apac Coralith García , Inga Jennifer Cuadros , Díaz Roger Hernández , Vigo Marie Vallejo , Cuba Cesar Mujica , Vilcapoma Pierina , Angles-Yanqui Eddie , Terrones Débora Rocío Mananita , Robles Rosa Terán , Resurrección Cristhian , Gonzalez Alfredo Chiappe , Antezana Martha , Zegarra Socorro Torres , Villegas-Chiroque Miguel , Díaz-Sipión Roberto , Benítez-Peche Jorge , Rosas Jorge Luis Alave , Ruiz Jhoselyn Laura Goytizolo , Fernández Angélica María Hernández , Vargas José Antonio Flores , Araujo Javier , García Francisco Javier Arriaga , Rivera Zoila Cruz , Colín Víctor Monroy , Ríos Katia Bustamante , Blanquel Jorge Israel Hernández , de la Garza Eduardo Arias , Gutiérrez Héctor Hernández , León Karla , Lara Hortencia Esther Peralta , Arias Carlos Baltodano , Garay Eduardo Alemán , Sanabria Gladys Estigarribia , Menchaca Livio Mereles , Viré Natalia Luraschi , Acuña Dasy , Caballero Edgar Giménez 
Published: December 2021

Background

Point prevalence surveys (PPSs) on antibiotic use are useful for understanding different aspects related to prescription patterns in hospitals.

Methods

An adaptation of the WHO methodology for a PPS on antibiotic use was applied. Hospital wards were divided into medical (MED), surgical (SUR), ICUs, gynaecology and obstetrics (GO), high-risk (HR) and mixed wards (MIX). A web application (RedCap©) through a mobile device was used for data collection.

Results

Between December 2018 and August 2019, 5444 patients in 33 hospitals in five countries were included (10 hospitals in Cuba, 7 in Paraguay, 6 in El Salvador, 5 in Mexico and 5 in Peru). Of these patients, 54.6% received at least one antibiotic, with variations between and within hospitals and countries. Antibiotics were more frequently used in ICUs (67.2%), SUR (64.5%) and MED wards (54.2%), with 51.2% of antibiotics prescribed for community-acquired infections (CAIs), 22.9% for healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), 11.1% for surgical prophylaxis and 6.1% for unknown reasons. Adherence to guidelines was observed in 68.6% of cases (72.8% for CAIs, 72.4% for HAIs and 44.3% for prophylaxis). Third-generation cephalosporins were the class of antibiotics most frequently used (26.8%), followed by carbapenems (10.3%) and fluoroquinolones (8%). Targeted treatments were achieved in 17.3% of cases.

Conclusions

Antibiotic use was generally higher than that published in other studies. There is an urgent need to promote and strengthen the antimicrobial stewardship programmes in Latin America.