Antimicrobial resistance in Africa: a systematic review

• Published in: BMC infectious diseases Vol. 17; no. 1; pp. 616 - 17
• Main Authors: Tadesse, Birkneh Tilahun, Ashley, Elizabeth A., Ongarello, Stefano, Havumaki, Joshua, Wijegoonewardena, Miranga, González, Iveth J., Dittrich, Sabine
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 11.09.2017; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Africa; Age; Amoxicillin; Analysis; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antibiotics; Antiinfectives and antibacterials; Antimicrobial agents; Antimicrobial resistance; Bacteria; Bacterial Infections - drug therapy; Bacterial Infections - microbiology; Care and treatment; Ceftriaxone; Ceftriaxone - pharmacology; Ciprofloxacin; Ciprofloxacin - pharmacology; Complications and side effects; Diagnostic systems; Dosage and administration; Drug resistance; Drug Resistance, Bacterial - drug effects; E coli; Enterobacteriaceae - drug effects; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli - drug effects; Gentamicin; Gram-positive bacteria; Guidelines; Health aspects; Humans; Infectious diseases; Influenza; Laboratories; Malaria; Neisseria gonorrhoeae - drug effects; Neisseria gonorrhoeae - isolation & purification; Penicillin; Pneumonia; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Public health; Quality; Salmonella; Search strategies; Standardization; Streptococcus infections; Studies; Surveillance; Systematic review; Teaching hospitals; Trimethoprim; Urinary tract diseases; Urinary tract infections; Urogenital system; Womens health; Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Bacteria; Systematic review; Antimicrobial resistance; Africa
• ISSN: 1471-2334; 1471-2334
• DOI: 10.1186/s12879-017-2713-1

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is widely acknowledged as a global problem, yet in many parts of the world its magnitude is still not well understood. This review, using a public health focused approach, aimed to understand and describe the current status of AMR in Africa in relation to common causes of infections and drugs recommended in WHO treatment guidelines. PubMed, EMBASE and other relevant databases were searched for recent articles (2013-2016) in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Article retrieval and screening were done using a structured search string and strict inclusion/exclusion criteria. Median and interquartile ranges of percent resistance were calculated for each antibiotic-bacterium combination. AMR data was not available for 42.6% of the countries in the African continent. A total of 144 articles were included in the final analysis. 13 Gram negative and 5 Gram positive bacteria were tested against 37 different antibiotics. Penicillin resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae was reported in 14/144studies (median resistance (MR): 26.7%). Further 18/53 (34.0%) of Haemophilus influenza isolates were resistant to amoxicillin. MR of Escherichia coli to amoxicillin, trimethoprim and gentamicin was 88.1%, 80.7% and 29.8% respectively. Ciprofloxacin resistance in Salmonella Typhi was rare. No documented ceftriaxone resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae was reported, while the MR for quinolone was 37.5%. Carbapenem resistance was common in Acinetobacter spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa but uncommon in Enterobacteriaceae. Our review highlights three important findings. First, recent AMR data is not available for more than 40% of the countries. Second, the level of resistance to commonly prescribed antibiotics was significant. Third, the quality of microbiological data is of serious concern. Our findings underline that to conserve our current arsenal of antibiotics it is imperative to address the gaps in AMR diagnostic standardization and reporting and use available information to optimize treatment guidelines.