Knowledge Attitude and Practice Regarding Bloodstream Bacterial Infections and Antibiotics Usage Among Doctors.

Knowledge Attitude and Practice Regarding Bloodstream Bacterial Infections and Antibiotics Usage Among Doctors in a Tertiary Hospital in Al Ain City, UAE: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study.

This study is designed to use a questionnaire to assess doctors' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding bloodstream bacterial infections and antibiotic use in Tawam and Al Ain tertiary Hospitals (both hospitals have the same medical team) in Al Ain City, UAE.

Study Overview

• Status: Enrolling by invitation
• Conditions: Bacteremia; Antimicrobial Stewardship; Antibiotic Use; Antibiotic Abuse
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Questionnaire

Detailed Description

Background: Bloodstream bacterial infection is a serious medical problem and one of the leading causes of death worldwide among all age groups. Appropriate and early antibiotic use has been associated with better outcomes based on many clinical trials. On the other hand, misuse and abuse of antibiotics have been linked to long hospital stays, significant morbidity and mortality, increased medical costs and rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Statistics in hospitals involved in the study, showed increased antibiotic consumption compared to previous years and other regional healthcare facilities. Rates of AMR in the UAE have increased significantly in the last decade, based on the 2022 annual report.

Aims and objectives This study will assess knowledge, attitude and practice regarding bloodstream bacterial infections and antibiotics use among doctors. It is a questionnaire-based cross-sectional descriptive study that will be conducted at Tawam and Al Ain Hospitals (tertiary hospital, both hospitals have the same medical team).

The investigators want to explore the degree of knowledge and attitude, assess the appropriate usage of antibiotics among doctors in different subspecialties, assess any possible barriers, and find solutions such as medical education for this challenging medical problem.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 100

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United Arab Emirates
  • Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
    • Tawam and Al Ain Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Licensed, practicing physicians, multinational

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

All physicians with valid medical licenses working in Tawam and Al Ain tertiary hospitals

Exclusion Criteria:

Infectious diseases physicians and Microbiologists

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Intervention / Treatment

All doctors with valid medical license in Tawam and Al Ain Hospitals; The group excludes infectious disease physicians and microbiologists.

Other: Questionnaire; An online questionnaire will be sent through e-mail to participants. It is divided into 4 sections: demography and general information 9 questions, knowledge 10 questions, attitude 10 questions and practice 10 questions. No previous similar studies were conducted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) or internationally based on a search in PubMed and Cochrane library. Hence a validated questionnaire is lacking. Therefore, the questionnaire for this study is designed based on questions encountered daily by colleagues during the consultation, and it can serve the purpose of this study. Consent will be obtained and signed electronically by participants before starting the questionnaire. Participation involves minimal risk. Responses will be anonymous and confidential. Participants' involvement is voluntary, and they can withdraw at any time without any consequences. The time to complete the questionnaire is around 10-15 minutes. Each response will be saved using a unique identifier number.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Understanding physician knowledge on antibiotic use in bacterial bloodstream infections (bacteremia).	Questions to assess physicians' knowledge related to basic microbiology, bacterial infections and antibiotic spectrum of activity using dichotomous questions; yes/no.	1 year
Understanding physician attitude on antibiotic use in bacterial bloodstream infections (bacteremia).	Questions to assess physicians' attitude in bacteremia management using dichotomous questions; yes/no, Likert scale or multiple choices.	1 year
Understanding physician practices on antibiotic use in bacterial bloodstream infections (bacteremia).	Questions to assess physicians' practice in bacteremia management using dichotomous questions; yes/no, or multiple choices.	1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Abu Dhabi Health Services Company
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Noura Saif Alnuaimi, MD, Abu Dhabi Health Services Co-SEHA; Study Chair: Ahmed Al Hammadi, MD, Abu Dhabi Health Services Co-SEHA

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Zahar JR, Timsit JF, Garrouste-Orgeas M, Francais A, Vesin A, Descorps-Declere A, Dubois Y, Souweine B, Haouache H, Goldgran-Toledano D, Allaouchiche B, Azoulay E, Adrie C. Outcomes in severe sepsis and patients with septic shock: pathogen species and infection sites are not associated with mortality. Crit Care Med. 2011 Aug;39(8):1886-95. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0b013e31821b827c. Erratum In: Crit Care Med. 2011 Oct;39(10):2392. Vesim, Aurelien [corrected to Vesin, Aurelien].
• Kreger BE, Craven DE, McCabe WR. Gram-negative bacteremia. IV. Re-evaluation of clinical features and treatment in 612 patients. Am J Med. 1980 Mar;68(3):344-55. doi: 10.1016/0002-9343(80)90102-3.
• Thomsen J et al. United Arab Emirates Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance Annual Report 2022.
• Labelle A, Juang P, Reichley R, Micek S, Hoffmann J, Hoban A, Hampton N, Kollef M. The determinants of hospital mortality among patients with septic shock receiving appropriate initial antibiotic treatment*. Crit Care Med. 2012 Jul;40(7):2016-21. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0b013e318250aa72.
• Bearman GM, Wenzel RP. Bacteremias: a leading cause of death. Arch Med Res. 2005 Nov-Dec;36(6):646-59. doi: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2005.02.005.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 9, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): March 9, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 9, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 18, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 18, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): September 20, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): September 26, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 24, 2024
• Last Verified: September 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: antimicrobial stewardship; bacteremia; antimicrobial resistance; healthcare workers; antibiotic use; antibiotic abuse
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Infections; Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome; Inflammation; Bacterial Infections and Mycoses; Sepsis; Bacteremia; Bacterial Infections
• Other Study ID Numbers: HREC SEHA-IRB-559

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No