Prevalence, antibiogram, and risk factors of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) asymptomatic carriage in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

MRSA is a major public health issue in Africa, particularly among healthcare workers and hospitalized patients. A meta-analysis of 59 studies found that healthcare workers and hospitalized patients had the highest prevalence of MRSA at 13.6% and 12.9%, respectively. Key risk factors for MRSA colonization included a history of hospitalization, prior antibiotic use, diabetes mellitus, HIV, invasive procedures, and being a nurse compared to a physician. Antibiotic resistance was low for linezolid and vancomycin, but higher for mupirocin, clindamycin, and Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Implementing targeted interventions for these high-risk groups can reduce MRSA transmission and infection burden. Continuous monitoring is crucial, especially given resistance to mupirocin.