Compliance with South Africa's antimicrobial resistance national strategy framework : are we there yet?

Engler, Deirdre and Meyer, Johanna C. and Schellack, Natalie and Kurdi, Amanj and Godman, Brian (2021) Compliance with South Africa's antimicrobial resistance national strategy framework : are we there yet? Journal of Chemotherapy, 33 (1). pp. 21-31. ISSN 1120-009X (https://doi.org/10.1080/1120009X.2020.1789389)

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Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing problem worldwide. South Africa has recently released its Antimicrobial Resistance National Strategy Framework (referred to as the Framework) to instigate antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs). Consequently, there is a need to assess compliance with the Framework. Methods: Descriptive study design, collecting quantitative data, among pre-selected public healthcare facilities. One healthcare professional from each participating facility, involved in ASPs, was invited to participate. Results: Overall 26 facilities from 8 provinces participated. Average compliance to the Framework was 59.5% for the 26 facilities, with 38.0% for community health centres, 66.9% for referral hospitals and 73.5% for national central hospitals. For 7 facilities compliance was <50% while 5 facilities were >80% compliant. Conclusion: Although some facilities complied well with the Framework, overall compliance was sub-optimal. With the introduction of universal healthcare in South Africa, coupled with growing AMR rates, ongoing initiatives to actively implement the Framework should be targeted at non-compliant facilities.

ORCID iDs

Engler, Deirdre, Meyer, Johanna C., Schellack, Natalie, Kurdi, Amanj ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5036-1988 and Godman, Brian;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)