The Role of Antimicrobial Resistance in Infectious Disease Burden, the Effectiveness ofClinical Pharmacist-Led Consultation in Benghazi Libya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62046/gijams.2025.v03i05.004Keywords:
Antimicrobial resistance , clinical pharmacy , antimicrobial stewardship programs , pharmacist involvemen , patient safety , healthcare practicesAbstract
Background: The global health crisis posed by antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is largely due to the
inappropriate use of antimicrobial medications, leading to higher rates of illness, death, and healthcare expenditures.
Effective clinical pharmacy initiatives, particularly through Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASPs), are crucial for
optimizing the use of antibiotics and reducing AMR. Aim: This research aimed to evaluate the impact of AMR on the
burden of infectious diseases in hospitals in Benghazi and to analyze the effectiveness of clinical pharmacy
consultations in decreasing AMR, along with their influence on patient outcomes and antibiotic prescribing habits.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional research design was employed, examining 200 inpatient
medical records collected through patient data forms. Additionally, 300 self-administered questionnaires were
distributed among clinical pharmacists, physicians, infection control experts, and nursing staff. The data were analyzed
using SPSS Version 21 and Microsoft Excel, with results reported as means ± standard deviation (SD), and comparisons
utilizing non-parametric tests (P < 0.05). Results: Out of the 200 patients reviewed, 84.5% had not undergone culture
swabs before the initiation of antibiotics, and documentation regarding culture outcomes was lacking in 84.5% of the
instances. Among the healthcare professionals surveyed, 93.7% indicated that there was no ASP in place at their
institutions, while 92.3% observed antibiotics being prescribed without adherence to established guidelines. The
involvement of pharmacists in patient care was minimal, revealing significant deficiencies in tasks such as obtaining
medical histories and monitoring for issues related to medication. Conclusion: The results indicate a critical impact on
microbiological testing and pharmacist participation within hospitals in Benghazi. It is vital to address these concerns
by improving microbiological testing, implementing stewardship programs, and standardized protocols, and enhancing
interdisciplinary collaboration to better patient outcomes and combat AMR.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Hanan M Garalla, Makpula Abdelaziz Tarhuni (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
The Greenfort International Journal of Applied Medical Science is published under the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. This license permits any non-commercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution, and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as appropriate credit is given to the original author(s) and the source.
