Knowledge gaps in antimicrobial stewardship in a Japanese hospital: A cross-sectional study highlighting the need for role-specific education for nurses and administrative staff

Abstract

Knowledge gaps pertaining to antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) among different hospital professions can hinder program effectiveness. This study aimed to identify and comparatively analyze AMS knowledge levels at a Japanese hospital. We conducted a cross-sectional, internet-based survey of all hospital employees (n = 2,703) to assess their knowledge of the antimicrobial stewardship team (AST) and programs (ASPs). The survey response rate was 48.4% (1,307 of 2,703). Significantly lower proportions of nurses and administrative staff than medical doctors and pharmacists knew about the AST and ASPs (p < 0.001). Critically, a significantly lower proportion of nurses (62.5%) than medical doctors (97.4%) (p < 0.001) was aware of the importance of sample collection for bacterial cultivation before antibiotic administration. These findings reveal significant role-specific knowledge gaps and strongly suggest that educational interventions targeting nurses and administrative staff are needed for promoting hospital-wide ASPs and ensuring their effective implementation.