Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is an emerging worldwide concern with serious repercussions in terms of morbi-mortality. Bearing in mind that the inadequate use of antibiotics, by healthcare staff as well as by the general population, is one of its main causes, a multidisciplinary approach is required to try to combat it. The aim of the present study was to determine nursing students’ knowledge and awareness of antibiotic use, resistance and stewardship. A cross-sectional design was used. A total of 578 nursing students from the University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain), ≥18 years old of both sexes were invited to complete the Spanish version of the questionnaire “Knowledge and awareness of the use, resistance and administration of antibiotics” between February and April 2019. Students had a low level of knowledge about antibiotics, 4.1 (CI95% = 3.4–4.8), especially in relation to antibiotic resistance. As the students were aware of this deficiency, the majority affirmed (>90%) that the current curriculum of nursing degree should have more training on antibiotics and infection control. Nursing staff play an important role in the rational use of antibiotics and as teachers of patients, so their training could be key in fighting antibiotic resistance.
Highlights
Antibiotics are medicines that fight bacterial infections
The emergence of antibiotic resistance is a natural biological phenomenon, and even though numerous factors have been identified as the cause of this, such as clustering and overcrowding or increased elderly population [2], one of the most important factors is the inadequate use of antibiotics [3], a very worrying situation especially for healthcare professionals with high rate of antibiotic prescription such as primary care dentists [4]
The results have brought to light that while students know general aspects of antibiotics, they have scarce training in antibiotic resistance, an aspect that was confirmed by the students’ deficient perception on the education that they have received about this group of drugs in their degree
Summary
Antibiotics are medicines that fight bacterial infections. They can save lives if they are used correctly, but nowadays antibiotic resistance has become a real problem [1]. Infections by resistant microorganisms do not respond to treatment, so the duration of the disease is prolonged, and the risk of death increases. If the treatment fails or if the response to treatment is slow, the patient is contagious for longer, which increases the likelihood of resistant microorganisms being transmitted to other people [2]. The emergence of antibiotic resistance is a natural biological phenomenon, and even though numerous factors have been identified as the cause of this, such as clustering and overcrowding or increased elderly population [2], one of the most important factors is the inadequate use of antibiotics [3], a very worrying situation especially for healthcare professionals with high rate of antibiotic prescription such as primary care dentists [4].
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