Abstract
Introduction: The antimicrobial agents have saved human from several infectious disease. However, bacteria have capability to develop to become resistant to antibiotics and incorrect use of antibiotics is the main determinants of development of antimicrobial resistance which is a public health issue. Attention on medical students and community people should be emphasized by both education and promotion. Thus, this study was aimed to assess the present knowledge, attitude and behavior of Libyan university students regarding antibiotic use and misuse. Methods: Sample size of 150 students attending faculty of pharmacy of university of Zawia, Libya was participated. The procedure was divided into five groups according to their grades. All the involved participants completed a health questionnaire about their utilization and mal utilization of antibiotics. Data was collected over a period of two months during July and August 1029. Results: The evaluated data was from 250 students; 132 were females and 21 were males (7.3 : 1.0). 88.0% use antibiotics to cure bacterial infection while 15.3% use it to cure viral infection. 38.0% never use antibiotics to treat respiratory tract infections such as common cold, 34.0% sometimes and 26.0% always. In addition, 61.0% stopped using antibiotic based on physician's instruction while 8.0% when symptoms decreased. Regarding their attitude toward antibiotic misuse, 82.0% agreed that it is necessary to get more education and promotion about pattern of antibiotic use and 73.0% agreed to establish courses on antibiotic rationale use. Conclusion: Students at medical university of Zawia have a considerable knowledge and a great perspective on antibiotics utilization. However, there is still a need for more additional educational programs on antibiotic utilization and mal utilization targeted university students and community people in Libya.
Highlights
The antimicrobial agents have saved human from several infectious disease
Bacteria have capability to develop to become resistant to antibiotics and incorrect use of antibiotics is the main determinants of development of antimicrobial resistance which is a public health issue
The findings revealed that there is a good knowledge about antibiotic utilization and mal utilization among university pharmacy students in Zawia compared with university students in other areas as Libya (Benghazi, east part of Libya) and Jordan [15, 16]
Summary
The antimicrobial agents have saved human from several infectious disease. bacteria have capability to develop to become resistant to antibiotics and incorrect use of antibiotics is the main determinants of development of antimicrobial resistance which is a public health issue.Attention on medical students and community people should be emphasized by both education and promotion. Mal utilization of antibiotic therapy includes failure to complete therapy, skipping dosages, self-medication and use of left-over antibiotics as well as prescribing errors [4, 5] This behavior leads to economic loss, increase in treatment failure, and need to revisit physicians [6]. Antibiotic resistance mechanisms occur when the bacteria are inside humans, animals or even in the environment [2] This is why utilizing antibiotics in the farming industry is an issue. The bacteria that already killed by certain antibiotics have become resistant This change can occur by genetic mutation where the bacterial DNA that stores the bacteria’s information and codes for its traits, randomly changes or mutates. This study aimed to examine antibiotic pattern use among pharmacy students of university of Zawia to evaluate the prevalence of antibiotic use and to examine individual characters connected to antibiotic use
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