Physician Awareness of WHO antimicrobial resistance Guidelines and Preferred Strategies for Optimizing Antibiotic Prescribing in Minia, Egypt | ||
| Minia Journal of Medical Research | ||
| Volume 36, Issue 3, July 2025, Pages 111-120 PDF (332.09 K) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/mjmr.2025.411179.2067 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Sarah Ahmed Refaei; Mahmoud Abdel-fattah El- sherif; ARWA Munir AbdelMageed Fawzy* ; Nehal Refaat Raouf | ||
| Public Health and Preventive Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt. | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a global health threat, particularly in low and middle-income countries. Egypt had the 58th highest age-standardized mortality rate associated with AMR. Effective antimicrobial stewardship, supported by WHO guidelines and frameworks such as the AWaRe classification, is essential to promote appropriate antibiotic prescribing. Aim: This study aimed to assess physicians’ awareness of WHO antimicrobial resistance guidelines and to identify perceived strategies to optimize antibiotic prescribing practices at Minia University Hospitals, Egypt. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2024 and May 2025 by interviewing 311 physicians using a structured, pre-tested questionnaire covering socio-demographics, awareness of WHO guidelines, sources of clinical information, and perceived usefulness of 14 strategies to improve prescribing. Results: About 65.9% of physicians were residents with a median age of 29 years. While 66.6% correctly identified WHO’s Five Moments for Hand Hygiene, only 27.7% were aware of the AWaRe classification. Among those who were aware of the classification, 70.9% reported its influence on their prescribing. Physicians primarily relied on peers (70.7%) and workplace resources (57.9%) for clinical information. Educational sessions (88.1%) and the availability of local/national guidelines (80.7%) were identified as the most helpful strategies to improve prescribing. Conclusion: Physicians at Minia University Hospitals showed moderate awareness of WHO infection control guidelines and limited familiarity with the AWaRe classification. Physicians highlighted the value of educational sessions and clear prescribing guidelines, suggesting that aligning interventions with prescriber perceptions may enhance the effectiveness of antibiotic stewardship efforts. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Antibiotic stewardship; AWaRe classification; Guidelines; Antibiotic prescribing; Egypt | ||
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