Publications by authors named "Helena Owusu"
Compliance to Guidelines in Prescribing Empirical Antibiotics for Individuals with Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infection in a Primary Health Facility of Ghana, 2019-2021.
Int J Environ Res Public Health
September 2022
Increasing trends in antimicrobial resistance among uropathogens call for rational use of empirical antibiotics for managing uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs). In Ghana, standard treatment guidelines (STGs) for UTI recommend oral ciprofloxacin or cefuroxime for 5-7 days in females and 10-14 days in males. We conducted a cross-sectional audit using electronic medical records (EMR) to assess compliance to the STGs among adults (≥18 years) with uncomplicated UTIs diagnosed in a primary health facility between October 2019 and October 2021.
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- The first point prevalence survey at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital aimed to establish a baseline for antimicrobial use and identify necessary stewardship interventions.
- During the survey, 988 patients were assessed, showing an overall antimicrobial prevalence of 53.3%, with community-acquired infections treated more frequently than healthcare-associated ones.
- Key findings included that the most common reasons for antimicrobial prescribing were pneumonia, skin infections, and sepsis, with a notable focus on compliance and documentation in prescriptions, suggesting potential improvements in antimicrobial stewardship.