Lab tests key to tame drugs resistance

Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to antimicrobials. [iStockphoto]

Africa is struggling to fight drug-resistant pathogens but a new study conducted in 14 countries has revealed a lack of laboratory capacity and erratic use of available antibiotics with only 1.3 per cent of medical laboratories conducting bacteriology testing as the crisis within the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) crisis.

The study which was carried out by Mapping Antimicrobial Resistance and Antimicrobial Use Partnership (MAAP) provides insights into the antimicrobial burden in the 14 countries and it is the first to systematically collect, process and evaluate large quantities of antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial consumption data in Africa.