Africa CDC study reveals alarming rise in drug-resistant infections in Nigeria

NIGERIA—A recent study by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has revealed a concerning increase in drug-resistant infections across several African countries, including Nigeria.

The findings raise alarm about the ability of health systems to effectively treat common illnesses.

According to the Africa CDC, the report was part of the Mapping Antimicrobial Resistance and Antimicrobial Use Partnership (MAAP), the most extensive study on antimicrobial resistance ever conducted in Africa.

The research involved collaboration between the Africa CDC, the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM), the One Health Trust, and regional partners, with support from the UK Fleming Fund and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The study analysed more than 187,000 laboratory test results from 205 laboratories located in 14 African countries, including Nigeria, using samples collected between 2016 and 2019.

Researchers found growing resistance in bacteria commonly responsible for severe infections such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Resistance to third-generation cephalosporins, a potent group of antibiotics, was particularly high in Ghana and Malawi.

The report also noted that in six countries, more than half of the Staphylococcus aureus samples were resistant to methicillin, a widely used antibiotic.

In Nigeria and Ghana, resistance levels exceeded 70 per cent, underscoring a serious public health challenge.

The Africa CDC highlighted that certain groups were more vulnerable to drug-resistant infections.

People aged 65 years and above were 28 per cent more likely to experience such infections than younger adults, while hospitalised patients faced a 24 per cent higher risk.

The report added that previous antibiotic use further increased the likelihood of developing resistance.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), public health expert Gabriel Adakole noted that the findings have deep implications for the country’s health sector, particularly hospitals and treatment facilities.

He said Nigeria continues to strengthen its antimicrobial resistance surveillance through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and partner agencies.

However, he emphasised that significant gaps persist in routine testing, antibiotic stewardship, and data reporting, especially within primary and secondary healthcare centres.

Adakole warned that misuse of antibiotics, including self-medication and unregulated over-the-counter sales, has worsened the problem.

He also pointed out that despite the rising burden, the report identified major weaknesses in testing capacity and data quality across Africa.

Less than two per cent of all assessed health facilities could test for bacterial infections, and only 12 per cent of resistance records included patient information.

Yewande Alimi, One Health Unit Lead at Africa CDC, explained that the quality of antimicrobial resistance data varied widely across the continent.

Senegal, she noted, had stronger laboratory systems, while Sierra Leone had limited data collection capacity.

Many laboratories still rely on handwritten registers and lack digital infrastructure, making data management difficult.

Alimi stressed the need for continued investment in laboratory services, routine testing, and digital data systems.

She said antimicrobial resistance remains a complex challenge for Africa, demanding urgent and coordinated action at both national and regional levels.