Keyword: Antimicrobial resistance

ABSTRACT: The growing pace of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious threat to modern infectious disease control as it has significantly undermined the clinical value of the traditional antibiotics. Traditional antimicrobial agents, which act by preventing the growth of bacteria or causing cell death, place a lot of selection pressure on the microbial population, therefore, promoting the rapid emergence and spread of resistance determinants. Besides spurring the evolution of resistance, such strategies often destabilize commensal microbiota and help transfer resistance genes between different bacteria of various species. These restrictions have shown that there is an urgent need to establish alternative treatment measures capable of reducing infections and reducing evolutionary pressures that promote resistance. Anti-virulence therapy (AVT) has developed as an exciting paradigm which has sought to lay emphasis on the molecular aspects of bacterial pathogenicity, as opposed to microbial viability. AVTs are designed to disrupt virulence-related processes such as quorum sensing, toxin secretion, host adhesion, immune evasion, and nutrient acquisition by selectively interrupting virulence in endotoxin-producing bacteria with the aim of attenuating virulence and promoting host-mediated clearance without necessarily endangering the survival of bacteria. It is theorized that this mechanistic difference will decrease the selective advantage provided to resistant variants, which may retard the tempo of resistance emergence and dissemination in bacterial populations. In this case, we will analyze the mechanistic foundations of bacterial virulence and will compare the existing anti-virulence therapies used as therapeutic approaches and their application in an evolutionary context. We also evaluate the new preclinical and clinical findings under the effectiveness of AVTs, along with the most important translational obstacles in terms of pharmacological optimization, target specificity, and regulatory validation. Together, these observations provide support to anti-virulence interventions as complementary or alternative therapies to conventional antibiotics in the treatment of multidrug-resistant infections, and highlight the necessity of interdisciplinary collaboration in order to support the adoption of such interventions into new-generation antimicrobial treatment programs.

ABSTRACT: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses an escalating threat to global public health, undermining the effectiveness of infectious disease prevention and treatment and placing sustained pressure on health systems worldwide. Advances in genomic technologies, including whole-genome sequencing and metagenomic analyses, have substantially enhanced the resolution and scope of AMR surveillance. However, despite growing investments in genomic surveillance, the routine translation of genomic data into public health policy and action remains limited. This review examines the persistent data-to-decision (D2D) gap that constrains the public health impact of genomic AMR surveillance. Using a narrative review approach, the literature on genomic AMR surveillance, public health surveillance systems, and decision-making frameworks was synthesized to assess how genomic data are generated, interpreted, and operationalized within public health systems. The review integrates evidence from international and national surveillance initiatives, policy analyses, and implementation studies, with particular attention to organizational, analytical, and governance factors influencing data use. Findings indicate that while genomic surveillance offers high potential for early detection of resistance, transmission tracking, and proactive intervention, its public health utility is frequently limited by insufficient integration with decision-making structures, lack of standardized reporting and interpretation frameworks, and unclear action thresholds. The review highlights emerging best practices, including standardized translational reporting, decision-support tools, predefined genomic action triggers, and multidisciplinary collaboration, as critical mechanisms for closing the D2D gap. Persistent inequities in access to genomic surveillance capacity, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, further underscore the need for governance models that prioritize sustainability, local ownership, and equitable capacity building. Overall, this review argues that realizing the full public health value of genomic AMR surveillance requires moving beyond technological advancement toward intentional systems-level integration that aligns genomic intelligence with timely, evidence-informed public health decision-making.

ABSTRACT: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are among the most severe complications of  diabetes mellitus, contributing to infection, limb loss, and premature mortality. In Africa, the rising prevalence of diabetes, combined with limited laboratory capacity and frequent empirical antibiotic use, has intensified the problem of multidrug-resistant (MDR) infections. Understanding the microbial spectrum and associated outcomes is critical for guiding evidence-based management. This review systematically synthesizes data on microbial etiologies, antimicrobial-resistance patterns, and clinical outcomes of DFUs in African populations. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, African Journals Online, and Google Scholar were searched for studies published between 2000 and 2025. Eligible studies included adults with DFUs in African settings that reported bacterial isolates, resistance profiles, or clinical outcomes. Two reviewers independently screened and extracted data, and study quality was appraised using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. Data were synthesized narratively and summarized using descriptive statistics. Sixteen verified studies from ten African countries, encompassing approximately 2,700 participants, were included. Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the predominant isolates, followed by Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Proteus mirabilis. MDR prevalence was high, with methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) detected in 25–45% of isolates and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)–producing Enterobacterales in 30–50%. Among studies reporting outcomes, amputation rates ranged from 15% to 38% and mortality from 7% to 16%, with poorer outcomes in MDR infections. Considerable heterogeneity existed in sampling and testing methods across studies. Saureus remains the dominant pathogen in African DFUs, but AMR is pervasive across bacterial species. Strengthening diagnostic laboratory systems, infection-control practices, and antimicrobial stewardship (alongside integrated diabetic foot care) is essential to reduce preventable amputations, mortality, and the continent’s growing burden of drug-resistant infections.
Keywords: Diabetic

ABSTRACT: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global threat, and sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) bears a disproportionate share of this burden. This narrative review examines how deficiencies in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) contribute to AMR in SSA. It draws on peer-reviewed literature, institutional reports, and regional policy documents published between 2015 and 2025. Sources were identified through databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and WHO/UN databases using combinations of keywords including ‘AMR’, ‘WASH’, ‘Sub-Saharan Africa’, and ‘One Health’. We survey recent literature on the regional AMR problem, the role of inadequate WASH in propagating resistant infections among humans, animals, and the environment, and the relevance of a One Health approach. Key themes include the high AMR mortality in Africa, the persistence of antibiotic residues and pathogens in poorly managed water and sanitation systems, and how poverty-related WASH gaps drive frequent infections that require antibiotics. Evidence suggests that unsafe water and sanitation facilitate the environmental circulation of resistant bacteria and genes. The One Health framework is highlighted as essential for addressing these links, since AMR crosses human, animal, and ecological domains. We conclude that improving WASH infrastructure and practices, alongside integrated AMR strategies, is critical to curb resistance in the region. Focusing on WASH under a One Health perspective can reveal overlooked pathways of AMR spread and inform targeted interventions in SSA.