02763nas a2200229 4500008004100000245013500041210006900176260001500245300000800260490000600268520205500274653001602329653001402345653002602359653001402385653001402399653001402413100002302427700002102450700002002471856004202491 2021 eng d00aKnowledge, Attitudes and Practices Related to Antibiotic Use Among Community and Hospital Pharmacists in Galle District, Sri Lanka0 aKnowledge Attitudes and Practices Related to Antibiotic Use Amon cApril 2021 a1-80 v73 a

Background: Pharmacists’ knowledge about and attitudes towards antibiotic impact on appropriate antibiotic supply. However, this information is lacking in Sri Lanka. Purpose: To evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and practice of antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance (AR) among community pharmacists and hospital pharmacists in Galle District, Sri Lanka. Methods: A cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted to assess their knowledge about antibiotic use and causes of AR, attitudes towards antibiotic use and dispensing practice. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Ninety percent of the pharmacists (n=90/100) responded, comprising community pharmacists (n=43) with efficiency qualifications and hospital pharmacists with proficiency (n=45) or B.Pharm (n=2) qualifications. The hospital pharmacists' knowledge about consequences of inappropriate antibiotic use, ineffective treatment (100%) and AR (100%), were significantly higher than community pharmacists’ knowledge (91% and 86%; P=0.048 and 0.010, respectively). The knowledge about AR reasons, for example, antibiotic use for non-bacterial infections, was also significantly higher in hospital pharmacists (92%) than community pharmacists (74%), P=0.030. 84% of respondents had positive responses on all attitude statements. Most of the participants (98%) denied non-prescription antibiotic supply. Overall, greater knowledge about antibiotic use increased the likelihood of higher knowledge about AR (Adj. OR=3.94; 95% CI: 1.57-9.88; P=0.003) and positive attitude towards it (Adj. OR=3.71; 95%CI: 1.54-8.92; P=0.003). Conclusion: Extent of pharmacy qualification could impact the pharmacists’ antibiotic use and AR knowledge. Raising pharmacists' knowledge about antibiotic use may enhance their AR knowledge and attitudes towards it.

10aAntibiotics10aAttitudes10aCommunity Pharmacists10aKnowledge10aPractices10aSri Lanka1 aAmarasinghe, Meenu1 aViet, Ha, Nguyen1 aZawahir, Shukry uhttp://jppcm.org/article/2021/7/1/1-802368nas a2200229 4500008004100000245015400041210006900195260001800264300001000282490000600292520159400298653003501892653001601927653002001943653003601963653001801999653001502017653001902032100002202051700002102073856004402094 2021 eng d00aProbiotics and its Impact on Antibiotic-associated Diarrhea (AAD) and Clostridum difficile Infections (CDI) in Adult and Pediatric Patients: A Review0 aProbiotics and its Impact on Antibioticassociated Diarrhea AAD a cDecember 2021 a46-480 v73 a

A common adverse effect of antibiotic use is diarrhea. Probiotics are living micro-organisms, which may prevent antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) by the normalization of an unbalanced gastrointestinal flora. The objective of this review was to assess the benefits and harms of probiotics used for the prevention of AAD in patients based on literature findings. Thus review of the literature using bibliographic databases and abstracting systems such as PubMed (1978- 2020) and Cochrane was conducted to find the effects of probiotics and compare AAD and CDI in both pediatric and adult populations and determine significant differences and similarities that might impact clinical decisions. In general, pediatric AAD and CDI have a more rapid onset of symptoms, a shorter duration of disease and fewer CDI complications (required surgeries and extended hospitalizations) than in adults. Literature studied revealed the finding that suggests that probiotic use in both adult and populations may be beneficial in the prevention of AAD among patients. Furthermore, the use of probiotics appears to be safe. The narrative review adds value to the current knowledge owing to the fact that adult and pediatric differences of AAD and CDi have not been studied in many review focusing on current evidence before ours. The differences in treatment modality across age groups should be taken into account when rating severity of disease and prescribing antibiotics. However, any differences should be taken into account when rating severity of disease and prescribing.

10aAntibiotic-associated diarrhea10aAntibiotics10aBifidobacterium10aClostridum difficile infections10aLactobacillus10aprobiotics10aSaccharomyces.1 aChakraverty, Raja1 aSasmal, Sudeshna uhttp://jppcm.org/article/2021/7/3/46-48