Abstract
BackgroundAntimicrobial resistance is one of the major public health challenges in Ethiopia. However, there is no comprehensive summary of existing AMR data in the country.AimTo determine the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance and its clinical implications in Ethiopia.MethodsA systematic literature search was performed on the PubMed/Medline database. Original studies on antimicrobial resistance conducted in Ethiopia between 1st January 2009 and 31st July 2019 were included. The outcome measure was the number of isolates resistant to antimicrobial agents in terms of specific pathogens, and disease condition. Data was calculated as total number of resistant isolates relative to the total number of isolates per specific pathogen and medication.ResultsA total of 48,021 study participants enrolled from 131 original studies were included resulting in 15,845 isolates tested for antimicrobial resistance. The most common clinical sample sources were urine (28%), ear, nose, and throat discharge collectively (27%), and blood (21%). All the studies were cross-sectional and 83% were conducted in hospital settings. Among Gram-positive bacteria, the reported level of resistance to vancomycin ranged from 8% (Enterococcus species) to 20% (S. aureus). E. coli, K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa were the most common Gram-negative pathogens resistant to key antimicrobial agents described in the national standard treatment guideline and were associated with diverse clinical conditions: urinary tract infections, diarrhea, surgical site infections, pneumonia, ocular infections, and middle ear infections.ConclusionOverall, there is a high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in Ethiopia. Empirical treatment of bacterial infections needs to be guided by up-to-date national guidelines considering local antimicrobial susceptibility patterns. Equipping diagnostic laboratories with culture and drug susceptibility testing facilities, and establishing a strong antimicrobial stewardship program should be high priorities.
Highlights
Antimicrobial resistance is one of the major public health challenges in Ethiopia
Overall, there is a high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in Ethiopia
Statistical analysis This study focused on evidence synthesis on the prevalence of resistance patterns of bacterial pathogens in Ethiopia with emphasis on clinical implication
Summary
Antimicrobial resistance is one of the major public health challenges in Ethiopia. there is no comprehensive summary of existing AMR data in the country. Inappropriate use of antimicrobial agents contributes to the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and hinders the global effort to mitigate infectious diseases [1, 2]. The ineffectiveness of antibiotics in killing microbes, non-adherence to standard prescription, Berhe et al Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control (2021) 10:168 complex human mobility, poor healthcare seeking behavior, and shift in demography and other factors contribute to microorganisms’ adaptation to antibacterial agents [3]. According to a WHO report, there is scarcity of usable data to guide policy recommendations on AMR, especially in the Africa region. This is due to sizable problems associated with data inadequacy as only few countries collect and report continuous surveillance of drug resistance [4, 5]. The few available reports revealed that the WHO African region accounts for increased incidence of the AMR worldwide with significant reports of resistance observed for Vibrio cholerae, Shigella dysentery, Salmonella typhi, Neisseria gonorrhoea, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Plasmodium falciparum and HIV-type I [10, 11]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
