Nairobi: Results from a newly published study highlight the growing spread of drug resistance across 14 African countries, underscoring the urgent need to strengthen laboratory testing, data systems, and health planning to tackle hard-to-treat infections. The study, known as the Mapping Antimicrobial Resistance and Antimicrobial Use Partnership (MAAP), is the largest of its kind ever conducted in Africa.
According to African Press Organization, the MAAP study was led by a coalition including the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM), One Health Trust, and other regional partners. Researchers reviewed more than 187,000 test results from 205 laboratories, collected between 2016 and 2019 across Burkina Faso, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The research revealed that certain groups are more prone to drug-resistant infections. People over the age of 65 were found to be 28 percent more likely to have resistant infections compared to younger adults. Patients already admitted to hospitals faced a 24 percent higher risk, likely due to increased exposure to antibiotics. Previous use of antibiotics was also linked to higher resistance.
However, the study identified significant gaps in healthcare facilities. Fewer than 2 percent of health facilities were equipped to test for bacterial infections, and only 12 percent of drug resistance records were linked to patient information. The lack of comprehensive data makes it challenging for health officials to understand the spread of resistance.
Data quality varied across the countries. Senegal had the strongest systems, while Sierra Leone faced difficulties with data collection. Many laboratories still rely on handwritten records and lack reliable digital systems.
The study, supported by the UK's Fleming Fund and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), urges governments to prioritize drug resistance by investing in better laboratories, routine testing, and stronger digital systems. Without action, the threat of drug resistance could reverse decades of health and development gains.
Dr. Yewande Alimi, the One Health Unit Lead at Africa CDC, emphasized the urgency of addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) across Africa. "This study brings to light groundbreaking AMR data for African countries. We must act now—and together—to address AMR," Alimi stated.
