Prevalence of Antimicrobial Resistance in Somalia: A Systematic Review

A systematic review of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Somalia reveals an alarming public health crisis. The fragmented healthcare system and lack of surveillance have allowed resistance to reach extreme levels. Nearly all Staphylococcus aureus infections are methicillin-resistant (MRSA, 97.4%), and E. coli shows very high resistance to common antibiotics (94.6% to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole). Acinetobacter baumannii demonstrates 100% resistance to multiple drug classes, including last-resort carbapenems. Overall resistance levels are far higher than in neighboring Ethiopia. The study concludes that Somalia urgently needs a national AMR surveillance system, local treatment guidelines, and effective antimicrobial stewardship to prevent further escalation of this crisis.