Antibiotic use at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Zone d'Abomey Calavi/Sô-Ava (CHUZ/AS) in Benin: a point prevalence survey

Abstract

This study found a high prevalence of antibiotic use among inpatients at the CHUZ/AS Tertiary Care Hospital in Benin. The most prescribed antibiotics were ampicillin, metronidazole and ceftriaxone. Consequently, the study found a low use of culture and sensitivity testing to guide treatment, particularly in the paediatric and surgical population, and the preference for broad-spectrum antibiotics suggests that antibiotic use at the CHUZ/AS Tertiary Care is not optimal. Therefore, antimicrobial stewardship programmes, policies and guidelines must be instigated and strengthened to address these gaps and promote rational use of antibiotics.