Assessment the role of Iraqi pharmacists in antimicrobial resistance

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the role and awareness to sample of Iraqi pharmacists in antimicrobial resistance of most common resistance bacterial species and to investigate the possible control measures against the increasing rate of resistance to current antimicrobial therapies. A questionnaire was administered to 120 Iraqi pharmacists in there work place weather in hospitals pharmacy or community pharmacies.the results of the present study indicate that most of the responding pharmacists considered methicillin resistant staphylococcus aurous (MRSA) and vancomycinresistant Enterobacteriaceae (VRE) the most frequently encountered resistant bacterial species. Most pharmacists stated prolonged hospitalization as a factor likely to contribute to increase the rate of bacterial resistance.Our results reported that 60%of Iraqi pharmacists indicated the use of antibiotics without prescription as a significant reason for the development of bacterial resistance,the pharmacists stated the appropriate infections control is the most crucial measure to decrease bacterial resistance on the other hand the results showed that 55% of them recognized better adherence to infection to the infection control guidelines as somewhat likely most important factor that could reduce the risk of bacterial resistance. The result of pharmacists suggestion show that the strategies to control bacterial resistance was better hyjiene practice was 47.5 % while the pharmacists opinion on the future risk of bacterial resistance show that 63% of them considered that bacterial resistance will become worse if current practice do not change.On conclusion the finding of the current study explain a. varying levels of awareness of bacterial resistance among Iraqi pharmacist thus serious efforts are still needed to develop and implement strategies to reduce the further risk of bacterial resistance antimicrobial.