Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System on the African continent: Early implementation 2017–2019

Abstract

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is becoming a critical public health issue globally. The World Health Organization launched the Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) to support the strengthening of the AMR evidence base.Objective: The article describes the evolution of national AMR surveillance systems and AMR data reporting of countries in the African continent between 2017 and 2019, and the constraints, perceived impact and value of the participation in GLASS.Methods: Data on implementation of national surveillance systems and AMR rates were submitted to GLASS between 2017 and 2019 and summarised though descriptive statistics. The information on constraints and perceived impact and value in GLASS participation was collected though a set of questionnaires.Results: Between 2017 and 2019, Egypt, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, Uganda and Zambia submitted data to GLASS. The main constraints listed are linked to scarce laboratory capacity and capability, limited staffing, budget issues, and data management. Moreover, while the data are not yet nationally representative, high resistance rates were reported to commonly-used antibiotics, as the emerging resistance to last treatment options.Conclusion: Despite the limitations, more and more countries in the African continent are working towards reaching a status that will enable them to report AMR data in a complete and systematic manner. Future improvements involve the expansion of routine surveillance capacity for several countries and the implementation of surveys that allow to effectively define the magnitude of AMR in the continent.

Ongoing Efforts to Improve Antimicrobial Utilization in Hospitals among African Countries and Implications for the Future

“…This depends on available and timely facilities and no/limited co-payments from patients for sensitivity testing [ 76 ]. National AMR surveillance facilities are growing across Africa, and this will continue alongside addressing infrastructure challenges, to help achieve NAP goals [ 9 , 53 , 207 ].…”

“…International activities include those among the Interagency Coordination Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (ICGAR) Global Leaders group, ongoing activities within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Fleming Fund, and the World Bank alongside activities by the World Health Organization (WHO) including the One Health Approach and the development of Global Action Plans (GAP) to tackle AMR [ 36 , 37 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 ]. Regional initiatives within Africa include activities by the Africa CDC, the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM), the Southern Africa Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance, other Civil Society Organisations in Africa as well as the development of African guidelines to treat common bacterial infections across age groups [ 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 ].…”

“…National AMR surveillance facilities are growing across Africa, and this will continue alongside addressing infrastructure challenges, to help achieve NAP goals [9,53,207].…”

Patterns and trends of antimicrobial resistance in bacterial isolates from urine cultures in Eritrea, 2010–2021: a secondary dataset analysis

“…For example, there are large gaps in our understanding of the magnitude, distribution, and trend of AMR in UTI in SSA [10]. Others have argued that despite efforts aimed at harmonization; heterogeneity of surveillance system in terms of objectives, scope, methodology, and reporting remain.…”

Synergistic Promotion System of Montmorillonite with Cu2+ and Benzalkonium Chloride for Efficient and Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial Activity

“…Bacterial infections have become the second leading cause of death in humans, after ischemic heart disease . At the same time, the overuse of antibiotics has led to the emergence of superbugs or drug-resistant bacteria. − Henceforth, the foremost imperative lies in the exploration and development of novel alternative approaches to effectively address bacterial infections, an overarching global health concern …”