We compared the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli isolates from household-level producers of broiler (commercial source breeds) and local chickens in the Arusha District of Tanzania. Households were composed of a single dwelling or residence with independent, penned broiler flocks. Free-range, scavenging chickens were mixed breed and loosely associated with individual households. A total of 1,800 E. coli isolates (1,200 from broiler and 600 from scavenging local chickens) from 75 chickens were tested for their susceptibility against 11 antibiotics by using breakpoint assays. Isolates from broiler chickens harbored a higher prevalence of antibiotic-resistant E. coli relative to scavenging local chickens, including sulfamethoxazole (80.3 versus 34%), followed by trimethoprim (69.3 versus 27.7%), tetracycline (56.8 versus 20%), streptomycin (52.7 versus 24.7%), amoxicillin (49.6 versus 17%), ampicillin (49.1 versus 16.8%), ciprofloxacin (21.9 versus 1.7%), and chloramphenicol (1.5 versus 1.2%). Except for resistance to chloramphenicol, scavenging local chickens harbored fewer resistant E. coli isolates (P < 0.05). Broiler chickens harbored more isolates that were resistant to ≥7 antibiotics (P < 0.05). The higher prevalence of antibiotic-resistant E. coli from broiler chickens correlated with the reported therapeutic and prophylactic use of antibiotics in this poultry population. We suggest that improved biosecurity measures and increased vaccination efforts would reduce reliance on antibiotics by these households.

The antibiotic susceptibility of fecal Escherichia coli isolates from commercial-layer and free-range chickens in Arusha district, Tanzania were compared. All the chickens were raised by individual households, but commercial-layer chickens were purchased from commercial vendors, whereas no systematic breeding system was used to produce free-range chickens. A total of 1,800 E. coli isolates (1,200 from commercial-layer chickens and 600 from free-range chickens) were tested for susceptibility to 11 antibiotics by breakpoint assays. All E. coli isolates were susceptible to gentamicin, ceftazidime and cefotaxime. Isolates from commercial-layer chickens had a high prevalence of resistance (32.4-74.5%) for amoxicillin, ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, streptomycin, trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole, while the prevalence of resistance to these antibiotics was lower (7-31.5%) for freerange chickens (P<0.05). Both groups had a similar prevalence of resistance to chloramphenicol (1.17-1.5%; P>0.05). For antibiotic resistant strains, 64.1 and 91.5% of free-range and commercial-layer isolates, respectively, were resistant to ≥ 2 antibiotics. Commercial-layer chickens harbored significantly more resistant E. coli isolates (P<0.001) than free-range chickens, consistent with more exposure to antibiotics when compared with free-range chickens. Efforts should be directed towards motivating household owners to limit the use of antibiotics when they are investing in these breeds.

Objective To determine factors associated with risk of preterm delivery among pregnant women delivering at Muhimbili National Hospital in Tanzania. Methods A 1:1 case‐control study was conducted to assess maternal sociodemographic, lifestyle, and current and previous obstetric factors associated with risk of preterm delivery. Mothers of preterm infants were regarded as cases and those of term infants were controls. Chi‐square test and logistic regression were used to assess association between the factors and risk of preterm delivery. Results A total of 222 case‐control pairs were studied. Maternal type of employment (P = 0.039), previous preterm delivery (P = 0.002), previous spontaneous abortion (P = 0.004), uterine scar (P < 0.001), parity (P = 0.034), number of prenatal care visits (P = 0.032), premature rupture of membranes (PROM) (P < 0.001), placenta previa (P = 0.002), bleeding during second trimester (P = 0.004), pre‐eclampsia (P < 0.001), and maternal anemia (P = 0.033) were associated with risk of preterm delivery. The main risk factors associated with preterm delivery included previous preterm delivery (odds ratio [OR] 13.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.72–101.95), placenta previa (OR 12.63, 95% CI 1.63–97.98), and PROM (OR 8.77, 95% CI 1.33–4.60). Conclusion Close monitoring of pregnant women who present any of the risk factors is important to prevent or reduce the risk of preterm delivery in Tanzania.

Antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli and Salmonella are an increasing challenge to global health. In Tanzania reliable data is limited for trends of resistance in major hospital-acquired pathogens. Data on the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant E. coli and Salmonella from Tanzanian sources (2004-2014) was extracted from PubMed and Google Scholar databases (April-June, 2015). Descriptive statistics and logistic-regression analysis were used to estimate the prevalence and trends for resistant E. coli and Salmonella to selected antibiotics using R software. A total of 24 articles were availablefor review, of which 21/24 (87.5%) and 7/24 (29.2%) reported the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant E. coli and Salmonella, respectively. Across all studies the average prevalence of resistance to ampicillin and cotrimoxazole was higher for E. coli (81.6 and 77.7%, respectively) than for Salmonella (64.7and 59.3%, respectively). Both groups of pathogens were also resistant to ciprofloxacin (20-22%) and 3 rdgeneration cephalosporins (2.5-27.8%). A logistic-regression model for published data (2004-2014) indicated that during this period of time there has been a significant increase to amoxicillin/clavulanate, ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin and gentamicin in E. coli (P< 0.001), and a significant increase in resistance to ampicillin for Salmonella (P < 0.05).Decreased E. coli and Salmonella susceptibility to critical antibiotics threatens the effective treatment of these infections in Tanzania. Proactive strategies are needed to preserve these antibiotics that remain largely a ctive against bacterial pathogens in Tanzania.

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