Several antibiotics commonly used to treat infections in Tanzania may be becoming less effective, according to a new study conducted at Benjamin Mkapa Hospital, a tertiary public hospital in the country’s capital.

Researchers found growing resistance among bacteria responsible for blood, urinary tract and wound infections — a trend experts warn could make diseases harder and more expensive to treat.

The study involved researchers from several Tanzanian hospitals and research institutions, including Ifakara Health Institute. Moshi Moshi Shabani of Ifakara contributed to the research.

Why the study matters

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria evolve and stop responding to medicines designed to kill them. Health experts consider AMR one of the world’s leading public health threats because it can lead to longer illnesses, treatment failure and increased deaths.

The findings highlight the growing threat of AMR in Tanzania’s healthcare system. Researchers say the results could help doctors choose more effective antibiotics for treatment and improve infection management, including surgical care.

Researchers tracked infection trends over three years

The study, published recently in the East African Science Journal, analyzed laboratory records collected between 2020 and 2022 at the tertiary hospital.

Scientists tested 166 blood samples, 65 wound or pus samples and 107 urine samples from patients to assess how they responded to antibiotics commonly used in hospitals.

Common bacteria showing resistance to key antibiotics

Among the bacteria studied was Escherichia coli (E. coli), one of the leading causes of urinary tract and bloodstream infections. Researchers found it had developed resistance to several antibiotics, including ceftriaxone and meropenem — drugs often used to treat severe infections.

The study also reported notable resistance in Staphylococcus aureus to ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin. Meanwhile, drug resistance was also seen in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterium linked to wound infections and urinary tract infections.

The researchers warn that rising antimicrobial resistance could limit treatment options if antibiotic use and monitoring are not improved.

Call for careful antibiotic use and improved monitoring

According to the researchers, the findings underline the importance of using laboratory evidence to guide antibiotic prescriptions instead of relying on routine or guess-based treatment.

They also recommend expanding antimicrobial resistance monitoring in both hospitals and outpatient settings, alongside long-term studies to better understand how resistance patterns are changing over time.

Read the publication here.