A cross-sectional survey of antimicrobial stewardship in the healthcare facilities of the South West Region of Cameroon

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the implementation of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) in the referral hospitals in the South West Region of Cameroon. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out in November 2024 across four hospitals in the South West Region of Cameroon: Limbe Regional Hospital, Buea Regional Hospital Annex, Baptist Hospital Mutengene, and Kumba Baptist Health Center. For data collection, we used the standard WHO checklist to assess AMS activities at the healthcare facilities designed for low- and middle-income countries. Key informant interview involving the AMS focal persons of various hospitals enabled data collection. Results: Limbe Regional Hospital has the highest full implementation rate of AMS activities (67%), while Buea regional hospital is the least of fully implemented activities (19%). An average of 49% of all AMS activities are fully implemented across the healthcare facilities, partially implemented activities made up 28%, only 3% of the activities are in the planning phase but not yet started. A 13% of the activities are not implemented across the studied facilities, while 7% of the activities are not implemented but identified as a priority. Conclusion: Although the rate is still low, there is good progress in implementation of AMS activities with most activities either fully or partially implemented; however, no health facility included AMS activities in their annual plans with key performance indicators, no management of any hospital allocated financial and human resources to initiate AMS activities. Strengthening institutional commitment and AMS training are recommended.