Assessing adherence to the national pediatric antibiotic prescription guideline for pneumonia treatment of children 2-59 months at Butaro level II teaching hospital.

Abstract

Background  

Inconsistent use of antibiotics can lead to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and pose a significant public health threat. The purpose of this study was to assess adherence to the national pediatric treatment guideline for antibiotic prescription for pneumonia among healthcare providers at a teaching hospital in Rwanda.  

Methodology

A cross-sectional study was conducted by auditing the clinical records of children aged 2-59 months who were admitted with pneumonia from January 2022 to January 2024. Data on the severity of pneumonia, prescribed medications, and adherence to the treatment protocol were extracted and analyzed. 

Findings

Out of the 308 records analyzed, only 14% were following the national guidelines in staging. While 71% of those correctly staged were prescribed the medications aligned with the guideline, none adhered to the complete regimen (in terms of route, dose, frequency, and duration). Once the medications were ordered, 97% were administered to patients as prescribed.  

Conclusion  

The study concluded that adherence to treatment guidelines remains suboptimal, with discrepancies in staging accuracy and treatment regimen implementation. This study highlighted the need for targeted interventions, including improved training, monitoring systems, and antibiotic stewardship programs, to optimize antibiotic prescribing practices, combat AMR, and improve health outcomes in pediatric populations, especially in low-resource settings.