The hidden dangers lurking at home: Unveiling the prevalence of leftover antibiotics and its associated factors among Lebanese households

Background

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a major global concern. Irrational use of antibiotics including self-medication (SM) with leftovers without a medical prescription can be a leading cause. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and related factors of leftover antibiotics (LA) in Lebanese households.

Study design

A cross-sectional study of the Lebanese population was conducted between March and October 2022.

Methods

Through random proportional stratified sampling, a total of 494 families participated in this study. Data collection was carried out through phone calls using a comprehensive and reviewed questionnaire. The data was then analyzed using SPSS version 26. Logistic regression was utilized to identify the factors associated with LA, with the presence of LA in households as the dependent variable and other factors such as age, region of residence, and presence of elderly individuals at home as the independent variables.

Results

Among selected households, 118 households (23.89%) had LA. The most common type of antibiotic found was penicillin (59.84%). Most of the LA were in the form of tablets and capsules (94%) with valid expiration dates (87%). Antibiotics were mainly prescribed by doctors (61%), and the main reason for prescribing was acute respiratory tract infections (47.46%). SM was reported by 42.37% of the families with LA. A family with elderly patients (p = 0.002; OR = 2.23; 95% CI = 1.33-3.73) and those residing in Mount Lebanon (p = 0.019; OR = 2.28; 95% CI = 1.14-4.56) had significantly higher odds of having LA.

Conclusion

Leftover antibiotics were found in nearly a quarter of the addressed Lebanese families. Therefore, public educational campaigns should be launched to limit injudicious antibiotic use including SM, and to promote proper disposal of any leftovers. It is also crucial to adopt the One Health approach by developing national programs for the safe disposal of LA and implementing regulations to restrict the distribution of antibiotics in pharmacies without a prescription.

The use of intravenous thrombolytics in acute ischemic stroke management: A scoping review from 2008 till 2021 in the Arab world in the Middle East and North Africa

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this review was to assess and analyze the research output on intravenous thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke in the Arab world in the Middle East and North Africa.

METHODS

Published literature on intravenous thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke from 2008 to 2021 were retrieved from several electronic databases. Extracted records were analyzed in terms of year of publication, country, journal, research area, authors, and organizational affiliations.

RESULTS

A total of 37 studies were published between 2008 and 2021 from different Arab countries. Eight studies assessed the safety and efficacy of thrombolytic agents in AIS. Three studies were KAP studies addressing the knowledge, attitude and practice towards IVT. The majority of the selected studies (n=16) discussed the utilization rate of IVT among patients in different hospital settings across these countries. Ten studies reported the outcomes associated with the use of IVT for AIS.

CONCLUSION

This is the first scoping review to study the research activity related to the use of IVT in stroke in the Arab nations. In the last 15 years, stroke research productivity was very low in the Arab world compared to other regions of the world due to several impeding factors. Given the high burden of in-adherence to acute stroke treatment in the Arab nations, there is a serious need for an increased high-quality research activity to highlight the roadblocks associated with the limited use of IVT.