National assessment of prescribing practice of antibiotic prophylaxis among obstetrics and gynaecological surgeries in Kuwait

Antimicrobial resistance has become a significant global health concern, primarily resulting from excessive and inappropriate use of antimicrobials. A significant portion of antibiotics prescribed within hospitals is for surgical patients as prophylaxis (AP) to prevent surgical site infections. Thus, AP must be used judiciously to reduce antibiotic resistance. Proper infection control and judicious use of antibiotics are crucial. This research aims to explore and assess the appropriateness of AP prescribing practice for all obstetrics and gynaecological surgeries in Kuwait. Methods: A national multicentre point prevalence survey (PPS) based on the Global PPS and WHO PPS methodology. The PPS was conducted in all Kuwait governmental and some private hospitals. The PPS was conducted once in every OBS/GYN ward after the day of the most surgical interventions. All patient files were reviewed for AP usage from the past 24 hours to assess the appropriateness of AP against local and international AP guidelines.
Results: preliminary results included 208 patients. Antibiotic usage among them was 98%. Only 53% of the patients received antibiotics before surgery, and only 11% were fully appropriate in terms of timing and selection. 85% of the patient received antibiotics for more than 24 hours. This research is still ongoing and requires further analysis. Conclusion: This study is a benchmark for AP utilisation in Kuwait, which helps in the establishment of antibiotic surveillance for surgical prevention as well as the development of ASP and recommendations for national guidelines tailored for the Kuwaiti healthcare system.