Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34368696›Full record

ArticleInfection prevention in practice2020

Auditing use of antibiotics in Zimbabwean neonates.

G Chimhini, S Chimhuya, L Madzudzo, M Heys, C Crehan, V Robertson, R A Ferrand, B Sado, M Sharland, A S Walker and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Infection prevention in practice, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 19 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
19citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

19 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. BMJ paediatrics open · 2026
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  14. Learning from pragmatic local research.Infection prevention in practice · 2021
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  18. Review of Drug Utilization Studies in Neonatal Units: A Global Perspective.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2020
    Review
  19. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

G ChimhiniDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe.
S ChimhuyaDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe.
L MadzudzoDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe.
M HeysUCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK.
C CrehanUCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK.
V RobertsonDepartment of Medical Microbiology, University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe.
R A FerrandLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
B SadoMicrobiology Department Harare Central Hospital, Harare, Zimbabwe.
M SharlandSt George's University of London, London, UK.
A S WalkerMedical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, University College London, London, UK.
N KleinUCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK.
F C FitzgeraldUCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK.

Funding

Medical Research Council MC_UU_12023/22Wellcome Trust 206316/Z/17/Z
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundNeonatal sepsis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in low-income settings. As signs of sepsis are non-specific and deterioration precipitous, antibiotics are often used profusely in these settings where diagnostics may not be readily available. Harare Central Hospital, Zimbabwe, delivers 12000 babies per annum admitting ∼4800 to the neonatal unit. Overcrowding, understaffing and rapid staff turnover are consistent problems. Suspected sepsis is highly prevalent, and antibiotics widely used. We audited the impact of training and benchmarking intervention on rationalizing antibiotic prescription using local, World Health Organization-derived, guidelines as the standard.

methodsAn initial audit of admission diagnosis and antibiotic use was performed between 8

resultsSepsis was the most common admitting diagnosis by interns at both time points but reduced at repeat audit (81% versus 59%,

conclusionA substantial decrease in antibiotic use was achieved by performance feedback, training and leadership, although ongoing performance review will be key to ensuring safety and sustainability.

Indexed as

AntibioticsAntimicrobial stewardshipLow-income settingNeonatal sepsisNeonatal unitZimbabwe

Identifiers

PMID34368696
PMCPMC8336170

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.