Dispensing of antimicrobials in Kenya: A cross-sectional pilot study and its implications

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the extent of self-medication of antibiotics and dispensing practices in Kenya. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at three selected pharmacies in Nairobi (Kenya), between January and March 2017, targeting principally antibiotic pr...

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Main Authors: Mwasi Mary Ann Mukokinya, Sylvia Opanga, Margaret Oluka, Brian Godman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2018-01-01
Series:Journal of Research in Pharmacy Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.jrpp.net/article.asp?issn=2319-9644;year=2018;volume=7;issue=2;spage=77;epage=82;aulast=Mukokinya
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spelling doaj-e6a7f95525404d4887dddee3b707534f2020-11-25T00:34:23ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Research in Pharmacy Practice2319-96442279-042X2018-01-0172778210.4103/jrpp.JRPP_17_88Dispensing of antimicrobials in Kenya: A cross-sectional pilot study and its implicationsMwasi Mary Ann MukokinyaSylvia OpangaMargaret OlukaBrian GodmanObjective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the extent of self-medication of antibiotics and dispensing practices in Kenya. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at three selected pharmacies in Nairobi (Kenya), between January and March 2017, targeting principally antibiotic prescriptions for systemic use issued and dispensed as well as antibiotics sold over-the-counter without a prescription. The quality of antibiotics prescribed and dispensed was assessed against key WHO and other criteria. Benchmarking was used to assess the quality of antibiotics prescribed as there are no predetermined levels, just guidance and the rationale. Key indicators included: utilization of penicillins, percentage utilization of third-and fourth-generation of cephalosporins versus first and second generation, utilization of macrolides including lincosamides and utilization of quinolones as a percent of total systemic antibiotic use. Findings: There was a low level of dispensing of antibiotics without a prescription with over 90% (94.1%) of antibiotics dispensed with a valid prescription. The most common antibiotics dispensed were the penicillins at just over 50% of all antibiotics, the cephalosporins at over 12% (12.6%) and the fluoroquinolones at just under 12% (11.7%). There were concerns with high use of third and fourth generation cephalosporins versus first- and second-generation as well as co-amoxiclav versus other penicillins. Conclusion: Low levels of self-medication of antibiotics and high adherence to quality standards for dispensing are encouraging and provide direction to other countries. Educational initiatives are needed though to address high levels of co-amoxiclav prescribing.http://www.jrpp.net/article.asp?issn=2319-9644;year=2018;volume=7;issue=2;spage=77;epage=82;aulast=MukokinyaAntibioticsdispensingKenyaself-medication
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Mwasi Mary Ann Mukokinya
Sylvia Opanga
Margaret Oluka
Brian Godman
spellingShingle Mwasi Mary Ann Mukokinya
Sylvia Opanga
Margaret Oluka
Brian Godman
Dispensing of antimicrobials in Kenya: A cross-sectional pilot study and its implications
Journal of Research in Pharmacy Practice
Antibiotics
dispensing
Kenya
self-medication
author_facet Mwasi Mary Ann Mukokinya
Sylvia Opanga
Margaret Oluka
Brian Godman
author_sort Mwasi Mary Ann Mukokinya
title Dispensing of antimicrobials in Kenya: A cross-sectional pilot study and its implications
title_short Dispensing of antimicrobials in Kenya: A cross-sectional pilot study and its implications
title_full Dispensing of antimicrobials in Kenya: A cross-sectional pilot study and its implications
title_fullStr Dispensing of antimicrobials in Kenya: A cross-sectional pilot study and its implications
title_full_unstemmed Dispensing of antimicrobials in Kenya: A cross-sectional pilot study and its implications
title_sort dispensing of antimicrobials in kenya: a cross-sectional pilot study and its implications
publisher Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
series Journal of Research in Pharmacy Practice
issn 2319-9644
2279-042X
publishDate 2018-01-01
description Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the extent of self-medication of antibiotics and dispensing practices in Kenya. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at three selected pharmacies in Nairobi (Kenya), between January and March 2017, targeting principally antibiotic prescriptions for systemic use issued and dispensed as well as antibiotics sold over-the-counter without a prescription. The quality of antibiotics prescribed and dispensed was assessed against key WHO and other criteria. Benchmarking was used to assess the quality of antibiotics prescribed as there are no predetermined levels, just guidance and the rationale. Key indicators included: utilization of penicillins, percentage utilization of third-and fourth-generation of cephalosporins versus first and second generation, utilization of macrolides including lincosamides and utilization of quinolones as a percent of total systemic antibiotic use. Findings: There was a low level of dispensing of antibiotics without a prescription with over 90% (94.1%) of antibiotics dispensed with a valid prescription. The most common antibiotics dispensed were the penicillins at just over 50% of all antibiotics, the cephalosporins at over 12% (12.6%) and the fluoroquinolones at just under 12% (11.7%). There were concerns with high use of third and fourth generation cephalosporins versus first- and second-generation as well as co-amoxiclav versus other penicillins. Conclusion: Low levels of self-medication of antibiotics and high adherence to quality standards for dispensing are encouraging and provide direction to other countries. Educational initiatives are needed though to address high levels of co-amoxiclav prescribing.
topic Antibiotics
dispensing
Kenya
self-medication
url http://www.jrpp.net/article.asp?issn=2319-9644;year=2018;volume=7;issue=2;spage=77;epage=82;aulast=Mukokinya
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