Antibiotic Activity in Urine of Patients in Laos
Author Information
Author(s): Manisone Khennavong, Viengmon Davone, Manivanh Vongsouvath, Rattanaphone Phetsouvanh, Joy Silisouk, Olay Rattana, Josée Castonguay-Vanier, Catrin E. Moore, Paul N. Newton
Primary Institution: Wellcome Trust-Mahosot Hospital-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Collaboration
Hypothesis
What proportion of Lao patients have taken antibiotics before medical consultation?
Conclusion
A significant number of patients in Laos had antibiotic activity detected in their urine, indicating prior antibiotic use.
Supporting Evidence
- 49.7% of patients in Vientiane had urinary antibiotic activity detected.
- Children had a higher frequency of antibiotic activity than adults (60.0% vs 46.5%).
- Antibiotic use based on patient histories was significantly less frequent than estimated from urinary activity.
Takeaway
Many people in Laos take antibiotics before seeing a doctor, which can make it harder to treat infections.
Methodology
The study involved testing urine samples from patients for antibiotic activity using bacterial lawns.
Potential Biases
Patients may not accurately recall their antibiotic use due to unregulated access to medications.
Limitations
The study could not collect urine from all patients before antibiotic administration and may have underestimated antibiotic use.
Participant Demographics
The majority of participants were rural rice farmers, with a median age of 26 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.0001
Confidence Interval
95% CI = 47.4–52.0
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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