Prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in Tanzania: A systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis of 28 studies provides a comprehensive overview of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) patterns in Tanzania, revealing widespread and high resistance among clinically relevant bacterial pathogens, particularly within commonly used (Access and Watch) antibiotics. High resistance rates were observed for penicillins (notably in Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Escherichia coli), erythromycin (in Campylobacter spp.), ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone (especially in A. baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), while resistance to last-resort carbapenems (e.g., meropenem, imipenem) remained relatively low but present. Most data originated from hospital-based, cross-sectional studies, with urine as the primary sample source. The findings highlight significant heterogeneity in resistance patterns and underscore the urgent need to update empirical treatment guidelines, strengthen surveillance, and enhance antimicrobial stewardship to ensure effective infection management and rational antibiotic use.