Impact of Antimicrobial Stewardship Programmes on Hospital-Acquired Infections in Rwandan Hospitals

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are a significant public health concern in Rwanda, particularly within Kigali hospitals where antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs) have been implemented. A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from Rwanda Public Health Surveillance System, focusing on Kigali hospitals. Data included patient demographics, infection rates before and after ASP implementation, and adherence to antibiotic guidelines. There was a statistically significant decrease in HAIs (p < 0.05) following the introduction of an ASP, with reductions ranging from 12% to 38%, depending on hospital-specific interventions. The implementation of ASPs has been effective in reducing HAIs in Kigali hospitals, though variability exists based on specific programme implementations and hospital characteristics. Further studies should assess long-term sustainability of ASPs and explore their impact on healthcare costs. Standardised training programmes for clinicians could enhance the effectiveness of ASPs. Antimicrobial stewardship programmes, Hospital-acquired infections, Rwanda, Kigali hospitals Treatment effect was estimated with $\text{logit}(p_i)=\beta_0+\beta^\top X_i$, and uncertainty reported using confidence-interval based inference.