ANTIMICROBIAL DRUG MISUSE IN THE EASTERN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY: FACTORS INFLUENCING THE EMERGENCE OF ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE

LAMBERT MORISHO; BAMAVU  AMISI; GAKNE  MANIKASSE; BANZA  NYEMBO; ISOKELO  MUNYUKU; CIRIMWAMI  MUGANDA; WITANDAY  BATUVANWA; MUNGUAKONKWA  MWENGE; KIPINDULA  MORISHO

doi:10.51168/sjhrafrica.v5i9.1284

Authors

LAMBERT MORISHO RESEAUX DES HOPITAUX CELPA
BAMAVU AMISI Coordination of Leprosy and Tuberculosis Control, Maniema Provincial Health Division, Kindu, DR Congo
GAKNE MANIKASSE Medical Analysis Laboratory Department, Baptiste Mid-Mission Hospital Center, Koumra, R Chad
BANZA NYEMBO Department of Public Health, Kindu Higher Institute of Medical Techniques, Kindu, DR Congo
ISOKELO MUNYUKU Department of Paediatrics, Kitutu General Reference Hospital, Kitutu, DR Congo
CIRIMWAMI MUGANDA Vaccination Service, French Red Cross Health and Prevention Center in Kourou, Kourou, French Guyana
WITANDAY BATUVANWA Department of Paediatrics, Kitutu General Reference Hospital, Kitutu, DR Congo
MUNGUAKONKWA MWENGE Department of Biodesign Technologies, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, R Japan
KIPINDULA MORISHO Department of Community Health, University Center of Peace, Bukavu, DR Congo

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v5i9.1284

Keywords:

Antimicrobial, Antimalarial, Resistance, Practices, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Abstract

Background

Antimicrobial resistance is a major global public health challenge. In sub-Saharan Africa, Plasmodium resistance to new molecules on the market continues unabated. This increase in resistance is mostly due to unhealthy community practices, and also to microbial control methods that are ineffective because of our health policies. This study aimed to analyze factors involved in the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in ancient Kivu, in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Materials and methods

A cross-sectional study was carried out from November 2023 to February 2024 in two cities east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, surveying pharmacies using a standardized questionnaire. We focused on four elements within the pharmacies: the nature of the provider, the way medicines are sold (consumption), the location of the pharmacies, and the nature of drugs.

Results

Our study included 98 (56.9%) pharmacies, 66.3% (65/98) of which were located in peripheral areas with most of the untrained providers (91.7%; 11/12; p = 0.006) and in all pharmacies, 81% (47/58; p < 0.001) of their sales were based on patients' wishes. Nursing sales are 76.9% (20/26; PR: 1.9; 95% CI: 0.5-7.4; p = 0.009) undocumented among qualified staff involved in pharmacy sales.

Conclusions

The risk factors for developing antimicrobial resistance in these two cities in eastern DRC are related to undocumented drug sales and qualified providers in pharmacies. This requires a high level of awareness among those involved in the sale of medicines and those who receive them.

Recommendation

Our proposal is for strict protection of antimicrobial resources through regulation of their sale in the region.