158. A multi-site, prospective study of antimicrobial prescribing practices in three low- or middle-income country hospitals

Abstract Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) are being developed internationally to mitigate the misuse of antimicrobials. An understanding of current practices and prescribing patterns is necessary to determine targets to develop context-specific ASPs in low- and middle-income country (LMIC) hospitals. We conducted a prospective study of patients admitted to the adult medical wards at three LMIC tertiary care centers in 2018- 2019: a 1,800-bed public hospital in Galle, Sri Lanka; a 991-bed public hospital in Eldoret, Kenya; and a 630-bed private hospital in Moshi, Tanzania. Information regarding antimicrobial therapy received during hospitalization, indications for antimicrobial therapy, and duration of antimicrobial use were extracted from the medical record. In total, 3150 patients were enrolled: 1297 in Sri Lanka, 750 in Kenya, and 1103 in Tanzania. Antimicrobial use prevalence varied between the three sites, with 56.0% of patients receiving antimicrobials during hospitalization in Sri Lanka, 56.5% in Kenya, and 35.4% in Tanzania. Third-generation cephalosporins were used most frequently in Kenya (70.0%) and Tanzania (73.1%), whereas amoxicillin/ clavulanic acid was used most frequently in Sri Lanka (48.4%). Lower respiratory tract infection was the most common indication for antimicrobial use in all three locations: 37.4% in Sri Lanka, 27.8% in Kenya, and 49.2% in Tanzania. No clear indication for antimicrobial use was documented among 11.6% patients receiving antimicrobials in Sri Lanka, 32.8% in Kenya, and 10.5% in Tanzania. In Tanzania, 8.6% of the patients had documentation of input from the microbiology or infectious diseases teams compared to less than 1% in either Sri Lanka or Kenya. Pertinent culture data related to the primary indication for antimicrobials was present in 16.1% (Sri Lanka), 6.1% (Kenya), and 7.4% (Tanzania). Unclear documentation for antimicrobial use was common in all three sites and most patients on antimicrobial therapy did not have pertinent culture data. Improving documentation and the capacity of the local microbiology laboratories could be initial targets for ASPs in these LMIC hospitals. All Authors: No reported disclosures