title: Antibiotic resistance among bacterial pathogens in Central Africa: a review of the published literature between 1955 and 2008.
abstract: A systematic review of the published literature on bacterial resistance in Central Africa between 1955 and 2008 was performed. Eighty-three publications from seven countries were retrieved, the majority presenting data on enteric and other gram-negative pathogens. Despite methodological limitations in many studies, alarming resistance rates are noted in nearly all pathogens. Of special concern are multidrug resistance in Shigella and Salmonella spp. and the emergence of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, high-level penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae and extended-spectrum beta-lactamases among gram-negative pathogens. These findings make clear that the Central African region shares the worldwide trend of increasing antimicrobial resistance and is in urgent need of sound surveillance based on competent and affordable microbiology to provide clear data on antimicrobial resistance. These data could enable redaction of local treatment guidelines and fuel national and regional policies to contain antimicrobial resistance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium. Evlieghe@itg.be
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vlieghe
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Phoba
authors.forename: J J Muyembe
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Tamfun
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jacobs
mesh_terms: D000350:Africa, Central / Q000453:epidemiology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents