ArticleAntimicrobial resistance and infection control2022
Exploring the economic impact of inappropriate antibiotic use: the case of upper respiratory tract infections in Ghana.
Article in Antimicrobial resistance and infection control, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 21 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
21 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Non-prescription antibiotic dispensing in community pharmacies in LMICs: a systematic review of prevalence, drivers, and policy implications.BMC health services research · 2026Pooled it
- Drivers of inappropriate use of antibiotics among community members in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review of qualitative studies.BMC public health · 2025Pooled it
- Inappropriate ceftriaxone utilization and predictor factors in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Scientific reports · 2024Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Public knowledge and misconceptions regarding antibiotic use and resistance in Jordan: A cross-sectional study.Medicine · 2026Article
- Disposal of Unused and Expired Medicines in a Take-Back-Unwanted-Medicines (TBUM) Site in Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study.Health science reports · 2026Article
- Acute Respiratory Infections in Ghanaian Children: Epidemiology, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Prevention Strategies.Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Engaging communities in addressing antimicrobial resistance: Co-producing locally relevant public health messages.PLOS global public health · 2026Article
- Impact of Real-Time Multiplex PCR Testing for Respiratory Viruses on Antibiotic Use.Infectious diseases & clinical microbiology · 2025Article
- Intensive care infection score: ICIS discriminates between infected and uninfected critically ill patients in routine intensive care unit practice.Intensive care medicine experimental · 2025Article
- Impact of COVID-19 on Antimicrobial Stewardship Activities in Hospitalised Children: A Scoping Review.Journal of paediatrics and child health · 2025Article
- Review
- Surgical Antibiotic Prophylaxis Used in A University Clinics Hospital and Antibiotic Costs: A 3-year Survey.Current therapeutic research, clinical and experimental · 2025Article
- Rapid molecular assays versus blood culture for bloodstream infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis.EClinicalMedicine · 2025Article
- Appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing among patients treated for dental diseases in Mekelle city, Northern Ethiopia: a cross sectional study.Journal of health, population, and nutrition · 2024Article
- Community antibiotic consumption and associated factors in Lusaka district of Zambia: findings and implications for antimicrobial resistance and stewardship.JAC-antimicrobial resistance · 2024Article
- A Narrative Review of Antibiotic Prescribing Practices in Primary Care Settings in South Africa and Potential Ways Forward to Reduce Antimicrobial Resistance.Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Development and evaluation of a continuous quality improvement programme for antimicrobial stewardship in six hospitals in Uganda.BMJ open quality · 2023Article
- Drivers of inappropriate antibiotic use in low- and middle-income countries.JAC-antimicrobial resistance · 2023Review
- Achieving universal health coverage in low- and middle-income countries through digital antimicrobial stewardship.Frontiers in digital health · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundAntibiotic consumption is increasing worldwide, particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Access to lifesaving antibiotics in LMICs is crucial while minimising inappropriate use. Studies assessing the economic impact of inappropriate antibiotic use in LMICs are lacking. We explored the economic impact of inappropriate antibiotic use using the example of upper respiratory tract infections (URIs) in Ghana, as part of the ABACUS (AntiBiotic ACcess and USe) project.
methodsA top-down, retrospective economic impact analysis of inappropriate antibiotic use for URIs was conducted. Two inappropriate antibiotic use situations were considered: (1) URIs treated with antibiotics, against recommendations from clinical guidelines; and (2) URIs that should have been treated with antibiotics according to clinical guidelines, but were not. The analysis included data collected in Ghana during the ABACUS project (household surveys and exit-interviews among consumers buying antibiotics), scientific literature and stakeholder consultations. Included cost types related to health care seeking behaviour for URIs. Additionally, cost saving projections were computed based on potential effects of future interventions that improve antibiotic use.
resultsHealth care costs related to inappropriate antibiotic use for URIs were estimated to be around 20 million (M) USD annually, including 18 M USD for situation 1 and 2 M USD for situation 2. Travel costs and lost income due to travel, together, were estimated to be around 44 M USD for situation 1 and 18 M USD for situation 2. Possible health care cost savings range from 2 to 12 M USD for situation 1 and from 0.2 to 1 M USD for situation 2.
conclusionsThis study indicates that inappropriate antibiotic use leads to substantial economic costs in a LMIC setting that could have been prevented. We recommend investment in novel strategies to counter these unnecessary expenditures. As the projections indicate, this may result in considerable cost reductions. By tackling inappropriate use, progress can be made in combatting antibiotic resistance.
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