Prescribing Patterns of Antibiotics According to the WHO AWaRe Classification during the COVID-19 Pandemic at a Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia: Implications for Strengthening of Antimicrobial Stewardship Programmes

Irrational and inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics is a major problem that can lead to the development antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In Zambia, there insufficient information on patterns according World Health Organization (WHO) AWaRe classification. Therefore, this study assessed using classification during COVID-19 pandemic at University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia. A cross-sectional was conducted 384 patient medical files from August 2022 September 2022. All were classified WHO “AWaRe” tool for appropriateness 2020 Zambian Standard Treatment Guidelines. Of reviewed, prescribed 443 times. The most ceftriaxone (26.6%), metronidazole (22.6%), amoxicillin (10.4%), amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (5.6%), azithromycin (5%). 42.1% “Watch” group greater than recommended threshold by WHO. Most respiratory infections (26.3%) gastrointestinal tract (16.4%). antibiotic ceftriaxone, Watch antibiotic. This worrisome observation calls strengthened stewardship implementation framework antibiotics.