Optimizing the diagnostic screening of children with fevers but without malaria in order to reduce unregulated antibiotic administration.
Goal\/Partnership\/ Relevance of the Partner Institution: The Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine works together with the Institute of Parasitology and Mycology from the Université des Sciences de la Santé in Gabon. This partnership maintains the goal to improving the diagnostic and therapeutic treatment of children with fevers.
Problem: In Gabon, emergency rooms are the primary point of contact for children with fevers. Although antibiotics are available in public health centers, laboratory capacity to identify specific microorganisms is lacking. Therefore, prescription antibiotics are often prescribed without proper indication.
Main Activities: In order to reduce the amount of prescribed antibiotics and the development of antibiotic resistance, a new decision algorithm is implemented at Melen Hospital. This algorithm is based on the symptoms and laboratory results of the patient and determines therapeutic protocol. The hospital personnel is trained and educated on these processes.
Short-Term Effects: In Melen Hospital, the case management of children with fevers is improved.
Long-Term Effects: The algorithm will be implemented at other hospitals in the future.