Background: Antibiotic resistance (AMR) is a safety concern for patients in Sierra Leone. AMR can occur in communities and as well in the process of receiving treatments in healthcare settings, and it can pose a major threat to patient safety. Healthcare-associated infections and AMR result in longer duration of illness, longer treatment, higher mortality, increased costs, and increased burden to health facilities. Objective: The purpose of this study was to generate more reliable estimates of the risk factors for the prevalence of HAI and to investigate patterns of antibiotic prescriptions done. Methods: The survey was conducted in 6 regional hospitals in Sierra Leone (Kono, Kambia, BO, Makeni, Moyamba, and Kenema) from June 16 to July 10 2019. The survey targeted inpatients in the pediatric, maternity, medical, and surgical wards. A structured questionnaire adopted from the WHO PPS form was used to collect information from patient medical charts and care notes. Results: Data were collected from 156 patients, of whom 140 patients were on antibiotics, 100 were women, and 40 were men. Patients on 1 antibiotic regimen accounted for 8.6% (n = 12) and 91.4% (n = 128) on a regimen of 2 or 3 antibiotics. Only 5 patients (3.6%) were on oral antibiotics and 135 (96.4%) were on IV antibiotics. In the maternity ward, 28 of 40 patients (70%) had had a caesarian section and were on 2 or more antibiotics; 18 patients with caesarian sections (64.3%) developed complications and continued on an antibiotic regimen for >1 week. The remaining 12 patients (30%) in the maternity ward were admitted for anemia and hypertension (ie, preeclampsia), and these patients were on 1 antibiotic regimen for which they had no clinical indication. Conclusions: The survey results show that every patient admitted to the hospital was covered with antibiotics with or without indications; no laboratory investigations were performed before antibiotics were initiated. These findings further reveal a large number of patients who were exposed to intravenous cannulation, which predisposes catheter-associated bloodstream infections. The survey results justify the need for an antibiotic stewardship program to guide use of antibiotics.

Funding: None

Disclosures: None

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Christiana Kallon