Six out of ten people with drug resistant infections are likely to die in Kenya, experts have warned citing rising threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the country.
The experts say, 38 pc of children who died in hospitals or communities had bacteria in their blood, many of which were resistant.
Speaking during the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) at the Glee Hotel in Nairobi, Co-Director of the Center for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis (CEMA), Dr. Loice Ombajo noted that inappropriate antibiotic use is driving resistance, and overuse of antibiotics both in the community and in hospitals and is associated with increased antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
“Emerging data from Kenyan hospitals shows dangerously high levels of resistance to commonly used antibiotics and an urgent need for action,” she noted.
The World Health Organization (WHO) indicated that AMR is a global health priority. It is considered one of the leading public health threats of this century with global data estimating that in 2019, nearly 1.3 million deaths globally were attributed to antimicrobial resistant bacterial infections.
Sub-Saharan Africa, had the highest mortality rate from AMR infections in the world, with 24 deaths per 100,000 attributed to AMR.
Projections show a loss of USD 100 trillion in global production by 2025 if no urgent action is taken to control AMR.
