Antimicrobial stewardship program implementation, perceptions, and barriers in Zambia : a cross-sectional study among healthcare professionals

Tools

Mudenda, Steward and Chizimu, Joseph Yamweka and Daka, Victor and Hangoma, Jimmy and Mwangilwa, Kelvin and Gardner, Priscilla and Chileshe, Chikwanda and Sinyawa, Taona and Muhimba, Zoran and Chileshe, Charles and Mwadetsa, Sandra Diana and O-Tipo, Shikanga and Chanda, Duncan and Kasanga, Maisa and Mainda, Geoffrey and Mufwambi, Webrod and Mukale, Samson and Bambala, Andrew and Goma, Fusya and Kalungia, Aubrey Chichonyi and Suzuki, Yasuhiko and Godman, Brian and Muma, John Bwalya and Chilengi, Roma (2025) Antimicrobial stewardship program implementation, perceptions, and barriers in Zambia : a cross-sectional study among healthcare professionals. Antibiotics, 14 (11). 1094. ISSN 2079-6382 (https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14111094)

[thumbnail of Mudenda-etal-Antibiotics-2025-Antimicrobial-stewardship-program-implementation-perceptions-and-barriers]
Preview
 Text. Filename: Mudenda-etal-Antibiotics-2025-Antimicrobial-stewardship-program-implementation-perceptions-and-barriers.pdf
Final Published Version
License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 logo
Download (245kB)| Preview

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) play a vital role in combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR). However, their implementation in Zambia remains variable despite some notable progress. This study assessed healthcare professionals’ awareness of the Multisectoral National Action Plan (NAP) on AMR, alongside their perceptions, barriers, and implementation practices related to ASPs. Methods: A cross-sectional survey conducted between August and December 2024 included 364 healthcare professionals (HCPs) in 58 randomly selected public healthcare facilities in Zambia. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS 25.0. Results: Findings revealed that while 75.3% of respondents were aware of the Zambian NAP on AMS, only 68.1% of the respondents reported that their hospitals had established AMS committees. Conversely only 41.2% of the respondents stated that their hospitals possessed hospital-specific treatment guidelines. Encouragingly, 97.5% believed ASPs could enhance clinical outcomes and reduce AMR. Key barriers included limited funding (75.9%), inadequate IT infrastructure (64.1%), limited access to essential data (64%), and healthcare workforce shortages (53.8%). Conclusions: Whilst HCPs in Zambia demonstrated high awareness of the NAP and supported ASP implementation, systemic challenges hindered their consistent execution across health facilities. Gaps in treatment guideline development, AMR data usage, and the integration of antimicrobial susceptibility recording systems into clinical activities must be addressed to strengthen ASP efforts nationwide.

CORE (COnnecting REpositories)