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Background: Postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis (PAP) involves using antibiotics after surgery to prevent surgical site infections (SSIs). However, studies have shown that PAP offers no additional benefits compared to discontinuation after surgical incision closure, prompting its de-implementation to prevent unnecessary antibiotic use that may contribute to antibiotic resistance. We conducted this review to synthesize evidence for guiding the design and implementation of effective strategies for discontinuing PAP practice and optimizing antibiotic use in surgical settings. Methods: This umbrella review searched for articles from PubMed/MEDLINE and Scopus, focusing on reviews conducted on human subjects on PAP to prevent SSIs, published in English language from 2019 to 5th July 2024. This review followed guidelines from PRISMA-P and PRIOR. The risk of bias (methodological quality) was assessed using AMSTAR-2. The pooled risk ratio (RR) was estimated using a fixed-effects model (Mantel–Haenszel method), while I2 was used to assess the heterogeneity between reviews. This review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024566124). Results: In our umbrella review, we screened 1156 articles, with 28 review articles found eligible for final analysis, involving over 457 primary studies. About 80,483 patients were involved in 9 meta-analysis reviews, which were used to estimate the pooled RR. We found no significant benefits to patients from continuing PAP beyond 24-h post-surgery compared to immediate discontinuation, RR: 1.07 (95% CI: 0.97–1.17, I2: 25%, p-value: 0.22). Strategies such as regularly assessing and refining guidelines to fit specific surgical settings and patients' characteristics, multidisciplinary collaboration, availability of resources needed for best practices, education and training healthcare workers on SSI prevention and antibiotic stewardship, and patient education in SSI prevention and proper antibiotic use were recommended to improve best practices in surgical settings. Conclusions: Prolonging antibiotic prophylaxis beyond 24-h post-surgery did not show significant protective benefits against SSIs. Our findings support the 2018 WHO recommendation for the immediate discontinuation of PAP following surgical incision closure in clean and clean-contaminated procedures. Further de-implementation research studies are needed to guide the effective discontinuation of PAP practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To explore the enabling factors, barriers, and strategies to improve retention in HIV care and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among adults (18 years and above) living with HIV in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methods: We conducted a descriptive qualitative study to better understand and explore enablers, barriers, and strategies to improve retention in HIV care and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among PLHIV in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Focus group discussions (FGD) were conducted with a semi-structured discussion guide between December 2021 and June 2022. A non-random purposive sampling technique was used to select PLHIV and people involved in provision of healthcare and socioeconomic support to PLHIV. Thematic analysis was used to identify and interpret the themes. Results: Three major themes with 10 sub-themes emerged. Participants indicated that family and partner support, peer-support group/adherence clubs, and healthcare provider counselling on medication adherence facilitated retention and adherence to ART. In contrast, stigma and discrimination, financial constraints, disease outbreaks such as the COVID-19 pandemic, myths and misconceptions about HIV, and side effects of antiretrovirals were mentioned as barriers. Strengthening community and patient education about HIV and ART through peer support groups and financial support for poor PLHIV were the proposed mitigation. Conclusion: Addressing the challenges to ART adherence may require a more holistic approach. We recommend the implementation of peer support groups and financial support through small microfinance groups as interventions to increase retention in HIV care and adherence to ART in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To explore the enabling factors, barriers, and strategies to improve retention in HIV care and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among adults (18 years and above) living with HIV in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania., Methods: We conducted a descriptive qualitative study to better understand and explore enablers, barriers, and strategies to improve retention in HIV care and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among PLHIV in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Focus group discussions (FGD) were conducted with a semi-structured discussion guide between December 2021 and June 2022. A non-random purposive sampling technique was used to select PLHIV and people involved in provision of healthcare and socioeconomic support to PLHIV. Thematic analysis was used to identify and interpret the themes., Results: Three major themes with 10 sub-themes emerged. Participants indicated that family and partner support, peer-support group/adherence clubs, and healthcare provider counselling on medication adherence facilitated retention and adherence to ART. In contrast, stigma and discrimination, financial constraints, disease outbreaks such as the COVID-19 pandemic, myths and misconceptions about HIV, and side effects of antiretrovirals were mentioned as barriers. Strengthening community and patient education about HIV and ART through peer support groups and financial support for poor PLHIV were the proposed mitigation., Conclusion: Addressing the challenges to ART adherence may require a more holistic approach. We recommend the implementation of peer support groups and financial support through small microfinance groups as interventions to increase retention in HIV care and adherence to ART in the study area., Competing Interests: Prof. Dr. Lisa Adams reports grants to her institution from Fogarty International Center/NIH; royalties from UpToDate, Inc, outside the submitted work. The authors declare that there are no other conflicts of interest in this work., (© 2024 Sambayi et al.)