Potential strategies to reduce inappropriate prescribing and dispensing of antimicrobials in Bangladesh building on the experiences in other developing countries

Background: With the drastic spread of COVID-19 and mass mortality of people globally, detection of the progression of this disease has stood out to be a necessity. Hence, we set out to identify the prevalence of COVID-19 antibodies in Bangladesh using the in-house rapid pan-immunoglobulin dot-blot test kit and evaluate the performance of this kit. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we tested serum collected between mid-May and mid-June 2020 for COVID-19 antibodies by using the in-house rapid pan-immunoglobulin dot-blot test kit in RTPCR confirmed patients with symptoms for 1-7 days (Group Ia; n =100) and 8-14 days (Group Ib; n = 100); symptomatic RT-PCR negative patients (Group II; n = 100) and convalescent patients (Group III; n = 109) while comparing with pre-pandemic sera samples collected prior two years to December-2019 (Group IV; n = 100). Results: Our kit detected that almost 70% of the convalescent patients produced antibodies against COVID-19 compared to other groups. However, the group with individuals at the end phase of COVID-19 exhibited the second-highest percentage of seroprevalence (41%). We also observed that though Group II was RT-PCR negative, 20% of them showed COVID-19 antibodies. Conclusion: With a specificity of 96% in our kit, we can say that our kit will be a potential device for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and to understand herd immunity in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.20(5) 2021 p.131-139

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of a rapid pan-antibody dot test for detection of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2

Haq

Jamiruddin

Khondoker

et al. 2021

“…Inappropriate prescribing is a crucial contributor to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) globally. AMR is the cause of morbidity, mortality, and rising healthcare costs, but in high-income and low-and middle-income countries (LIMCs) 97 . A survey of prescription writing skills of Pakistani house offices working in dental hospitals was deficient 98 .…”

Section: Students and Interns Perception Regarding Prescribing Skill ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Changing Perspectives: Should We Integrate Pharmacology in the Clinical Phase?

Umar¹,

Haque

2022

Self Cite

Medical education has gone through tremendous evolution over the last few centuries. In the pre-Flexner and Osler era, medical education was mainly an apprenticeship-based model. After Flexner’s report in 1910, medical schools were more formalized in the West and became affiliated with universities. They ran four-year undergraduate courses comprising 2 years in preclinical basic science and two years in the clinical phase. Many other countries followed the British model, with five years of undergraduate training and one year of intensive internship training in the hospital. These knowledge-laden, didactic, teacher-centered courses could not produce skilled physicians to meet the challenges and health care needs of the 21st century. That is why innovative teaching methodologies were introduced in medical schools. Problembased learning, team-based learning, flipped classrooms, and integrated curriculum concepts were introduced. In Bangladesh, the medical education also going through a similar transition and heading towards an integrated medical curriculum. Pharmacology being a core preclinical science, is, in fact, at the cusps of clinical education. To produce competent physicians with good prescribing competency, knowledge of drugs is essential. In this perspective, pharmacology is a unique subject that should be integrated across all phases of medical education. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 21 No. 02 April’22 Page : 249-261

“…This builds on existing high and inappropriate rates of prescribing and dispensing of antibiotics generally in Bangladesh and wider among low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) including among dentists [16][17][18][19][20] . This is a concern as the over-use of antimicrobials increases antimicrobial resistance (AMR) with subsequent implications on morbidity, mortality and costs [20][21][22][23] . High AMR rates are a major issue in Bangladesh although there are ongoing Government and other activities to try and reduce these 19,[23][24][25][26][27] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dental and medical education in Bangladesh: a pilot study and the implications

Chowdhury

Haque

Lutfor

et al. 2022

Self Cite

Objective: Lockdown and other measures, including the closure of universities, introduced by Governments across countries in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have appreciably impacted on the education of dental and medical students across countries. Key challenges included the need to rapidly move to e-learning as well as instigate new approaches to practicals for health science students. This involves lecturers and students necessarily needing to rapidly adapt to e-learning and other approaches. There have also been affordability issues among students to regularly access the Internet, and purchase the necessary equipment, particularly among those from low- and middle-income countries such as Bangladesh. Consequently, there is an urgent need to assess current challenges among senior level physicians and educators in Bangladesh regarding the education of dental and medical students arising from the current pandemic, and how these are being addressed, to provide future direction. This is particularly important in Bangladesh with high rates of both infectious and non-infectious diseases. Materials and Methods: Pragmatic investigation involving a purposely developed questionnaire based on previous studies and the experience of the co-authors. The questionnaire was distributed to 15 senior-level educators with the findings analysed by themes. Results: Key issues included little experience with e-learning at the start of the pandemic among both staff and students, poor internet access and cost of internet bundles. In addition, fear and anxieties among both students and staff. The colleges responded by instigating teaching classes for educators on e-learning and providing adequate personal protective equipment for staff and students during teaching and practical sessions. These formed the basis of future recommendations. Other recommendations included increased flexibility among staff and students. Conclusion: The pandemic posed appreciable challenges to both staff and students attending dental and medical colleges in Bangladesh. Some of the key issues are starting to be addressed. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 21 No. 02 April’22 Page : 444-454