Objective:

To provide a systematic and meta-analytic review of the prevalence of antibiotic resistance patterns for ESKAPE pathogens in the African population, highlighting their public health significance.

Key Findings:

• High levels of antibiotic resistance observed among ESKAPE pathogens in Africa, indicating a critical public health threat.
• Notable resistance rates: E. coli (57%), K. pneumoniae (70%), A. baumannii (84%), and MRSA (86.6%), which could lead to treatment failures.
• Resistance to major antibiotic classes including macrolides, tetracyclines, and last-line antibiotics, necessitating urgent intervention.

Interpretation:

The findings highlight a significant public health concern regarding antibiotic resistance among ESKAPE pathogens in Africa, necessitating urgent action to address misuse and overuse of antibiotics, including policy changes and public awareness campaigns.

Limitations:

• Potential publication bias due to exclusion of non-English studies, which may overlook important data.
• Variability in study quality and methodologies may affect the reliability of results; standardization in future studies is recommended.
• Limited geographical representation within Africa may not capture the full scope of the issue; further research in underrepresented regions is needed.

Conclusion:

The study underscores the critical need for improved antibiotic stewardship and surveillance to combat the rising threat of antibiotic resistance in Africa, emphasizing the urgency of immediate action.