Browsing by Author "Mwangana, M."

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    Compliance to guidelines for the prescribing of antibiotics in acute infections at Namibia’s national referral hospital:
    (Taylor & Francis, 2017) Nakwatumbah, S.; Kibuule, D.; Godman, B.; Haakuria, V.; Kalemeera, F.; Baker, A.; Mwangana, M.
    Background: Sub-optimal antibiotic prescribing remains a public health concern in Namibia. The objective is to determine the level and predictors of compliance to guidelines in the prescribing of antibiotics in acute infections at a national referral hospital in Namibia to improve future prescribing. Methods: Descriptive observational cross-sectional study. The clinical records of patients receiving care were reviewed. Prescribing practices were assessed using a self- administered questionnaire with reference to Namibia Standard Treatment Guidelines (NSTG). Results: The majority of prescriptions (62%) complied with the NSTGs; however, lower than national targets (95%). Most prescriptions were empiric and prescribers typically made reference to the NSTG (58%). Diagnosed infections were principally respiratory infections (58%) and penicillins were the most used antibiotics. Good concurrence between signs and symptoms with the diagnosis; diagnosis of upper respiratory tract, oral-dental and urogenital infections with prescribing of penicillins. Combination antibiotics and amphenicols were independent predictors of compliance to the NSTGs. The main behaviours associated with antibiotic prescribing were patient influences, clinical state, and access to guidelines. Conclusions: Compliance to NSTGs is suboptimal. Prescribing of combination antibiotics, penicillins and diagnosis of oral dental, genitourinary and ear, nose and throat infections were important predictors for NSTG compliance. There is a need to implement antibiotic indicators and stewardship programmes, and ensure access to NSTGs, to improve future antibiotic prescribing in Namibia.
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    Renal function outcomes in patients receiving TDF-containing antiretroviral therapy:
    (International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, 2018) Kalemeera, Francis; Oberholster, Carla; Segamwenge, Innocent; Kibuule, Dan; Naikaku, Ester; Mwangana, M.; Godman, Brian
    Introduction and Aims: Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has improved morbidity and mortality in patients with HIV across countries including countries in sub-Sahara Africa. However, cART is associated with renal impairment. The lack of pre-cART data in a recently published study limited the discussion on renal-based treatment outcomes with cART, which could have important clinical implications. Consequently, the aim of this paper is to correct this. Methods: Longitudinal retrospective study, with renal function assessed pre-cART and at various time points on cART using the Cockcroft-Gault method. The data source was the patients’ care booklets. Results: 71 patients were included. The majority were adults and female. Before cART initiation, 70.4% and 29.6% had abnormal and normal CrCl, respectively. CrCl was normalised in 24% of patients, while abnormal in the remainder. The mean (median) time to normalisation was 47.4 (33.7) months, observed more in paediatric than adult patients (p = 0.014). However, in paediatric patients, normalisation took longer than in adult patients. The reduction in CrCl, was observed at variable time points. 9/16 patients experienced a decline during first-line cART and 7 of these were receiving TDF. 7/16 experienced this during second-line cART and 6 were receiving TDF. Conclusion: HIV is typically the cause of renal impairment prior to cART, with TDF likely to be the cause of renal impairment during cART. Consequently, co-administration of TDF with other nephrotoxic drugs should be undertaken with caution if unavoidable. Overall, improvement in renal impairment was faster in adults.