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A new report has shown that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a public health threat that should be urgently addressed to avoid reversal of medical advancement in fighting infectious diseases.

The National Situation of Antimicrobial Resistance and Consumption Analysis from 2016–2018 report shows there has been a link between the misuse of antimicrobials and the emergence of AMR.

“The top five most consumed antimicrobials were amoxicillin, sulfa-methoxazole, ampicillin, erythromycin and doxycycline. Together they accounted for more than 58 per cent of the total consumption share, suggesting a lack of variation. This consumption trend could potentially increase AMR,” the report shows.

The report conducted by Mapping Antimicrobial resistance and Antimicrobial use Partnership (MAAP) consortium, was released during the AMR regional consultative forum held in a Nairobi hotel, with 14 African and three Asian countries in attendance.

Policy intervention

The report also indicated that the Drug Resistance Index (DRI) estimate in Kenya was found to be moderately high at 56.2 per cent implying low antibiotic effectiveness that threatens effective management of infectious disease and calls for urgent policy intervention.

“The DRI estimate of Kenya suggests the need for inter-departmental collaborations, increased community awareness and improved stewardship practices to control AMR,” the report says.

Testing

Kenya had approximately 1,037 laboratories in the national laboratory network during the study period, of which 64 reported capacity for bacteriology testing.

Self-reports for functioning and quality compliance from 56 laboratories were assessed to determine AMR surveillance preparedness.

The reported AMR rates were based on the analysis of antimicrobial susceptibility results of 16,027 positive cultures obtained from 16 laboratories.

African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) Chief Executive Nqobile Ndlovu said recent statistics show resistant diseases cause an estimated 700,000 annual deaths globally, with Africa bearing a disproportionately large share of morbidity and mortality.

“Resistance is very high and calls for urgent attention to strengthen surveillance. The impact to us, socially and economically cannot be underestimated, highlighting the urgent need to accelerate our actions to contain AMR across our continent and beyond,” he said.