Browsing by Author "Agaba, Amon Ganafa"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Antibacterial Prescription and the Associated Factors among Outpatients Diagnosed With Respiratory Tract Infections in Mbarara Municipality, Uganda
    (BMC Pulmonary Medicine, 2021) Muwanguzi, Timothy Eria; Yadesa, Tadele Mekuriya; Agaba, Amon Ganafa
    Respiratory tract infections (RTI) are the second most frequent diagnosis after Malaria amongst Outpatients in Uganda. Majority are Non pneumonia cough and flu which are self-limiting and often do not require antibacterials. However, antibiotics are continuously prescribed for these conditions and are a major contributor to antimicrobial resistance and wastage of health resources. Little is known about this problem in Uganda hence the impetus for the study.To determine the antibacterial prescribing rate and associated factors among RTI outpatients in Mbarara municipality. This was a retrospective cross-sectional study on records of RTI outpatients from 1st April 2019 to 31st March 2020 (prior to the novel corona virus disease pandemic) in four selected public health facilities within Mbarara municipality. A pretested data caption tool was used to capture prescribing patterns using WHO/INRUD prescribing indicators. We used logistic regression to determine factors associated to antibacterial prescribing.A total of 780 encounters were studied with adults (18-59 years) forming the largest proportion of age categories at (337, 43.15%) and more females (444, 56.85%) than men (337, 43.15%). The antibacterial prescribing rate was 77.6% (606) with Amoxicillin the most prescribed 80.4% (503). The prescribing pattern showed an average of 2.47 (sd 0.72) drugs per encounter and the percentage of encounters with injection at 1.5% (24). Drugs prescribed by generic (1557, 79%) and drugs prescribed from essential medicine list (1650, 84%) both not conforming to WHO/INRUD standard; an indicator of possible irrational prescribing. Female gender (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.51, 95% confidence interval [CI]: (1.06–2.16); 18–59 years age group (aOR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.09–2.33) and Individuals prescribed at least three drugs were significantly more likely to have an antibacterial prescribed (aOR= 2.72, 95% CI: 1.86–3.98).The study found a high antibacterial prescribing rate especially among patients with URTI, polypharmacy and non-conformity to both essential medicine list and generic name prescribing. This prescribing pattern does not comply with rational drug use policy and needs to be addressed through antimicrobial stewardship interventions, prescriber education on rational drug use and carrying out more research to determine the appropriateness of antibacterial prescribed.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Evaluation of the adverse effects of Dracaena steudneri Engl. stem bark aqueous extract in Wistar rats
    (African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 2021) Tenywa, Mercy Gladys; Katuura, Esther; Tolo, Casim Umba; Ajayi, Clement Olusoji; Agaba, Amon Ganafa
    Safety of medicinal plants/products is one of the major areas that require more attention because of the high rate at which consumers use medicinal plants/products due to their availability and accessibility. Dracaena steudneri Engl. is among the plants being used and recommended for the treatment of several diseases for decades among the traditional health practitioners. Despite its frequent use, there is little literature on its safety. This study investigated the acute and sub-acute effects of D. steudneri Engl. stem bark with a view to establishing its safe dose for drug development. The stem bark of D. steudneri Engl (Dracaenaceae) was collected, authenticated, dried, pulverized mechanically and extracted using decoction method. The extract was thereafter concentrated in vacuo at 50°C using rotary evaporator and lyophilised. The acute test was studied in Wistar rats using Lorke’s method at 10 to 5000 mg/kg to determine the lethal dose (LD50) and other adverse effects including weight loss, body scratching etc. In sub-acute test, 24 Wistar rats of both sexes were separately caged and orally administered with extract at 25 to 100 mg/kg. The administration was repeated for 28 days before the animals were humanely sacrificed. Blood of each animal was collected for hematological and biochemical examination, while the essential organs were harvested for histopathologic. The results showed that LD50 was greater than 5000 mg/kg. The extract did not exhibit any significant difference (p>0.05) on hematological parameters when compared with the negative control. There was no degenerative effect in the histology and pathology of all the organs examined but elevation in serum ALT and creatinine levels was observed. Although the aqueous extract of D. stuedneri stem bark did not show any significant hematological and histopathological effect on the organs tested, there was potential for renal and hepatic toxicity after repeated administration. Therefore caution must be taken with close monitoring during prolonged administration.