1637. Antibiotic Use in Lower Respiratory Tract Infections: Insights From Patient Interviews in Sri Lanka

BACKGROUND: Antibiotic resistance is an emerging global public health threat with inappropriate use of antibiotics as one of the major drivers. In Sri Lanka, antibiotic consumption is increasing, while little is known about how patients perceive antibiotics. We conducted a qualitative study to better understand patients’ knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes toward antibiotics. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted in the local language (Sinhala) and audio recorded for 18 patients with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) admitted to a large, public tertiary care hospital in southern Sri Lanka. Interviews were transcribed and then translated into English. Translated interviews were analyzed for themes regarding care-seeking behavior, patients’ knowledge of disease etiology and treatment of LRTI. RESULTS: Almost all patients mentioned multiple care visits and polypharmacy prior to admission. When seeking care, patients mainly focused on finding a quick cure, mostly by visiting several different private physicians. However, self-medication was also common. Patients reused prescriptions for antibiotics, kept antibiotics for later use after prematurely stopping their course of treatment and bought antibiotics over-the-counter. Patients’ knowledge of disease etiology and antibiotics was poor. Most patients described non-microbial causes such as exposure to dust and cold weather for their illness. Only a few patients were aware of antibiotic resistance. Despite the desire to receive more information regarding disease and treatment, transfer of information between patients and physicians was limited and mainly confined to prescription instructions. CONCLUSION: This qualitative study in Sri Lanka suggests inappropriate use of antibiotics is a multifactorial problem. Patients’ poor knowledge of disease and treatment, poor information transfer between physicians and patients, high demand for medicines, overprescribing by physicians, and self-medication were found as possible obstructive factors to improve antibiotic usage. To improve antibiotic use, a multifaceted approach is needed with improvement of awareness by patients, public, and physicians regarding antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance. DISCLOSURES: All authors: No reported disclosures.