The burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance in the WHO African region in 2019: a cross-country systematic analysis

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant global health challenge, with a disproportionate burden in low-income and middle-income countries. This study provides a comprehensive set of regional and country-level estimates of AMR burden in the WHO African region. The study estimated deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) attributable to and associated with AMR for 23 bacterial pathogens and 88 pathogen-drug combinations for countries in the WHO African region in 2019. The largest fatal AMR burden was attributed to lower respiratory and thorax infections, bloodstream infections, intra-abdominal infections, and tuberculosis. Seven leading pathogens were collectively responsible for 821,000 deaths associated with resistance in the region. The study reveals a high level of AMR burden for several bacterial pathogens and pathogen-drug combinations in the WHO African region, highlighting the urgent need to address the burden of AMR in Africa.