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This study provides evidence on antibiotic use by community health workers (CHWs) and caregivers to inform iCCM programmes, safeguarding current treatments whilst maximising access to care. The findings suggest that CHWs are capable of prescribing treatment corresponding to their assessment of respiratory rate. However, rational use of antibiotics could be strengthened through improved respiratory rate assessment, and better diagnostic tools. Furthermore, a shorter course of dispersible amoxicillin could potentially improve caregiver adherence, reducing risk of resistance and cost.
https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-016-3541-8
References
World Health Organization. Antimicrobial resistance: global report on surveillance. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2014.
World Health Organization. Global action plan on antimicrobial resistance. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2015.
Leung E, Weil DE, Raviglione M, Nakatani H, World Health Organization World Health Day Antimicrobial Resistance Technical Working Group. The WHO policy package to combat antimicrobial resistance. Bull World Health Organ. 2011;89(5):390–2.