AUTHOR=Tompkins Kathleen , Juliano Jonathan J. , van Duin David 

TITLE=Antimicrobial Resistance in Enterobacterales and Its Contribution to Sepsis in Sub-saharan Africa

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2021.615649

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2021.615649

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=<p>Antibiotic resistant <italic>Enterobacterales</italic> (formerly <italic>Enterobactereaceae</italic>) are a growing threat to Sub-Saharan Africa. Genes causing antibiotic resistance are easily spread between the environment and humans and infections due to drug resistant organisms contribute to sepsis mortality via delayed time to appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Additionally, second or third-line antibiotics are often not available or are prohibitively expensive in resource-constrained settings leading to limited treatment options. Lack of access to water and sanitation facilities, unregulated use of antibiotics, and malnutrition are contributors to high rates of antibiotic resistance in the region. Improvements in the monitoring of drug resistant infections and antibiotic stewardship are needed to preserve the efficacy of antibiotics for the future.</p>