Browsing by Author "Akufo, C."
Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item Antibiotic prescribing in paediatric inpatients in Ghana: a multi-centre point prevalence survey(BMC Pediatrics, 2018-12) Labi, A.K.; Obeng-Nkrumah, N.; Sunkwa-Mills, G.; Bediako-Bowan, A.; Akufo, C.; Bjerrum, S.; Owusu, E.; Enweronu-Laryea, C.; Opintan, J.A.; Kurtzhals, J.A.L.; Newman, M.J.Background Excessive and inappropriate use of antibiotics in hospitalised patients contributes to the development and spread of antibiotic resistance. Implementing a stewardship programme to curb the problem requires information on antibiotic use. This study describes a multicentre point prevalence of antibiotic use among paediatric inpatients in Ghana. Methods Data were extracted from a multicentre point prevalence survey of hospital acquired infections in Ghana. Data were collected between September 2016 and December 2016 from ten hospitals through inpatient folder and chart reviews using European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) adapted data collection instrument. From each site, data were collected within a 12-h period (8 am to 8 pm) by a primary team of research investigators and a select group of health professionals from each participating hospital. Results Among 716 paediatric inpatients, 506 (70.6%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 67.2 to 74.0%) were on antibiotics. A significant proportion of antibiotics (82.9%) was prescribed for infants compared to neonates (63.9%) and adolescents (60.0%). The majority of patients (n = 251, 49.6%) were prescribed two antibiotics at the time of the survey. The top five classes of antibiotics prescribed were third generation cephalosporins (n = 154, 18.5%) aminoglycosides (n = 149, 17.9%), second generation cephalosporins (n = 103,12.4%), beta lactam resistant penicillins (n = 83, 10.0%) and nitroimidazoles (n = 82, 9.9%). The majority of antibiotics (n = 508, 61.0%) were prescribed for community acquired infections. The top three agents for managing community acquired infections were ceftriaxone (n = 97, 19.1%), gentamicin (n = 85, 16.7%) and cefuroxime (n = 73, 14.4%). Conclusion This study points to high use of antibiotics among paediatric inpatients in Ghana. Cephalosporin use may offer an important target for reduction through antibiotic stewardship programmes.Item The financial impact of puerperal infections on patients, carers and public hospitals in two regions in Ghana(Wiley, 2021) Fenny, A.P.; Otieku, E.; Akufo, C.; Obeng-Nkrumah, N.; Asante, F.A.; Enemark, U.Puerperal infection (PI) is a known maternal health problem globally. However, there is limited information on its economic impact on patients, carers, and public hospitals in lower-middle-income countries, such as Ghana. A prospective case-control study was undertaken in two regional hospitals to analyze the cost of PI. A total of 667 and 559 participants were enrolled in the study at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (GARH) and the Eastern Regional Hospital (ERH), respectively. Total, average and marginal costs were analyzed between patients with and without PI. Within the study period, the prevalence of PI was 9.1% at ERH and 14.9% at GARH. Overall, patients with PI reported excess length of hospital stay (LOS), corresponding to 46.8% and 33.5% increases in average direct cost at ERH and GARH, respectively, compared with their control groups. In almost all cases, the attributable indirect cost was consistent with productivity loss. In both hospitals, patients with PI reported excess LOS and increased direct and indirect costs. The total cost of PI to society, which is the sum of the direct cost, productivity loss, and hospital cost, was higher in Greater Accra than in the Eastern region.Item Multi-centre point prevalence survey of hospital-acquired infections in Ghana(Journal of Hospital Infection, 2019-01) Labi, A.K.; Obeng-Nkrumah, N.; Owusu, E.; Bjerrum, S.; Bediako-Bowan, A.; Sunkwa-Mills, G.; Akufo, C.; Fenny, A.P.; Opintan, J.A.et.al.Background: There is a paucity of data describing hospital acquired infections (HAIs) in Africa. Objective: To describe the prevalence and distribution of HAIs in acute care hospitals in Ghana. Methods: Between September and December 2016, point prevalence surveys were conducted in participating hospitals using protocols of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. We reviewed medical records of eligible inpatients at or before 8am on the day of survey to identify HAIs present at the time of survey. Findings: Ten hospitals were surveyed, representing 32.9% of all acute care beds in government hospitals. Of 2107 inpatients surveyed, 184 HAIs were identified among 172 patients, corresponding to an overall prevalence of 8.2%. The prevalence values in hospitals ranged from 3.5 to 14.4% with higher proportion of infections in secondary and tertiary care facilities. The most frequent HAIs were surgical site infections (32.6%), bloodstream infections (19.5%), urinary tract infections (18.5%), and respiratory tract infections (16.3%). Device-associated infections accounted for 7.1% of HAIs. For 12.5% of HAIs, a microorganism was reported; the most isolated microorganism was Escherichia coli. Approximately 61% of all patients surveyed were on antibiotics; 89.5% of patients with an HAI received at least one antimicrobial agent on the day of survey. The strongest independent predictors for HAI were the presence of invasive device before onset of infection and duration of hospital stay. Conclusion: We recorded a low HAI burden compared to findings from other low and middle income countries.