Drug resistance threatens gains in TB and child health

A global expert on resistance to antibiotics has warned Kenya on the country’s lethargic response to drug resistance.

The warning comes as data shows that counties record at least a new case of drug-resistant tuberculosis every month and children dying of bacteremic illnesses.

Speaking to the Nation by phone, epidemiologist and researcher Ramanan Laxminarayan, from the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy in Washington, said as in other developing countries, medics in Kenya “do not appreciate the magnitude of antimicrobial resistance”.

A study issued two weeks ago listed Kenya among several countries in sub-Saharan Africa that prescribe more medication than recommended, which is one of the causes of drug antimicrobial resistance.

“The developed world has taken this issue seriously, we cannot say the same of the developing countries like Kenya”, he said.

He expressed concern about resistance in gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli, which causes bloody diarrhoea, fatal anaemia or kidney failure and urinary tract infections.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) also expressed concern about another gram-negative microorganism Klebsiella, 71 per cent of which are resistant to Ampicillin and Gentamicin in newborns.

TOP KILLERS

The diseases caused by these resistant microorganisms, such as pneumonia, are among the top killers in Kenya.

A study by Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) microbiologist Sam Kariuki published in November 2015 indicated that 77 per cent of typhoid fever-causing Salmon Typhimurium is resistant to three or more commonly available drugs meant to treat the disease it causes.

Salmon Typhimurium also causes food poisoning and gastroenteritis.

Prof Kariuki said he was particularly concerned because the diseases caused by these resistant microorganisms are related to poor sanitation: people get infected through contaminated water or foods, especially meat, poultry and eggs.

While there is no data specific to Kenya on the economic cost of resistance to antibiotics and other drugs, resistance to the medicine for diseases like tuberculosis costs the country more than Sh2 million per person.

Data from National Tuberculosis Leprosy & Lung Disease Program indicate that in 2015 alone Kenya recorded about 437 cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

So serious is the issue that leaders will meet at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September 2016 to commit to fighting antimicrobial resistance together.

This will be the fourth time in the history of the UN that a health topic is discussed at the General Assembly, after discussions on HIV, non-communicable diseases such as cancer, and Ebola.