Survey of Antimicrobial Susceptibility Knowledge Among Prescribers in a Teaching Hospital in Sokoto State

Inappropriate antibiotic selection based on poor knowledge of local antimicrobial susceptibility patterns undermines treatment efficacy and accelerates resistance development. This study surveyed the level of knowledge of antimicrobial susceptibility patterns and antibiogram use among prescribers at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital in Sokoto, Sokoto State, North West Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey using a structured questionnaire was conducted among 95 prescribers including medical officers, resident doctors, and consultants. The questionnaire assessed awareness of antibiograms, familiarity with local resistance patterns for common pathogens, antibiotic selection practices, and sources of drug information for prescribing decisions. Results showed that 62.1 percent of respondents were aware of the hospital's antibiogram, but only 31.6 percent reported consulting it when selecting antibiotics. Empiric antibiotic therapy without culture and sensitivity data was the practice of 74.7 percent of respondents for most infectious conditions. Knowledge of local resistance rates for Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli was rated as adequate in only 38.9 percent of respondents. Senior doctors relied significantly more on experience and personal practice habits than on antibiogram guidance. The study recommends making local antibiogram data more accessible at the point of prescribing, incorporating local resistance data into antimicrobial stewardship training, and developing antibiotic prescribing decision support tools for high-risk infection categories.

Keywords: antimicrobial susceptibility, antibiogram, prescribers, Sokoto State, antibiotic selection