BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been recognized by international policymakers as a serious threat due to its current and projected influence on global population health, healthcare expenditures and gross domestic product (GDP). The present work aimed to assess the awareness, perceptions, and practices of healthcare professionals regarding the implementation of the Antimicrobial Stewardship program (ASP). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 310 health care professionals. A self-administered questionnaire based on Antimicrobial Stewardship Toolkit for Acute and Long-Term Care Facilities
Greater New York Hospital Association (GNYAHA) was used to assess perceptions and knowledge about AMR and automatic selective perception. RESULTS: A total of 310 healthcare professionals participated in the study, of which 60.6% were females, with a mean age of 37.32 ± 8.71, mean years of working of 6.0 ± 5.95 and mean years of experience of 7.97 ± 7.14. The mean scores for AMR awareness, antibiotic (AB) prescribing practices, ASP perception, and intervention beliefs were 73.05 ± 11.21, 32.97 ± 8.22, 52.85 ± 13.99, and 18.24 ± 2.71, respectively. Bivariate analysis showed that profession, primary work unit, staff position significantly affect the AMR awareness and ASP perception, while only staff position affect intervention beliefs. The Multivariate linear regression showed that working in pharmacy, ABs prescribing practice and ASP perception were independent predictors of AMR awareness. Years of work in hospital, AMR awareness and ASP perception were the independent predictors of ABs prescribing practice. AMR awareness, ABs prescribing practice and intervention beliefs were independent predictors of ASP perception while ASP perception was the only independent predictors of intervention beliefs. CONCLUSIONS: The study found a high level of awareness and practice regarding AMR and ASP among healthcare professionals. Pharmacists had higher levels of AMR awareness and ASP perception than physician in different specialities. Levels of AMR awareness, ABs prescribing practice, ASP perception and intervention beliefs affect each other in different ways. Linear regression supported our findings that pharmacists had a higher level of AMR awareness, while years of work in hospital had a significant effect on ABs prescribing practice.