Abuja: A researcher, Dr. Kolawole Aremu, has called for immediate public health action to curb the rapidly rising spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria in the country. Aremu, Research Associate at the Trans-Saharan Diseases Research Centre, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), made the call in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Aremu emphasized the urgency of the situation following a study conducted by his team on the prevalence of typhoid fever and factors contributing to multidrug-resistance in Niger State. The choice of Niger as a case study was influenced by the ongoing issues of limited sanitation and healthcare access in the state.
Aremu, a lead investigator in the study, explained that a cross-sectional study design was employed, engaging young people aged 18 and above, with analysis of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi conducted using stool samples. The team, led by Prof. Musa Dickson, Director of the Trans-Saharan Disease Research Centre at IBBU, tested Salmonella isolates against selected widely used antibiotics.
Gentamicin and Levofloxacin showed comparatively high effectiveness, with rates of 78.5 percent and 83.6 percent respectively. However, resistance rates to older and commonly prescribed drugs were alarmingly high, with Chloramphenicol at 96.8 percent, Tetracycline at 79.5 percent, and Amoxicillin at 100 percent. The determination and interpretation of multidrug-resistance followed the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) methods.
The study examined associations between socio-demographic characteristics, clinical factors, and multidrug-resistant (MDR) Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi. Some reports have indicated an estimated 7.2 million cases of typhoid fever recorded annually in sub-Saharan Africa. Nigeria’s situation is becoming increasingly concerning as new evidence shows extremely high infection rates and dwindling treatment options due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Aremu identified poor sanitation, contaminated water sources, and widespread misuse of antibiotics as significant contributing factors. People tested who relied on tap water showed a 57.1 percent infection rate, compared to 25.6 percent for borehole users, highlighting serious contamination within public water systems. Self-medication and over-the-counter access to antibiotics, particularly Amoxicillin and Clavulanic acid combinations, were strongly linked to multidrug-resistance.
Young adults aged 18 to 27 years bear the highest disease burden, likely due to exposure in crowded schools, markets, and social environments lacking adequate sanitation. Untreated or poorly managed infections can result in severe complications, prolonged hospital stays, and increased mortality.
Aremu stressed the urgent need for improved Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure, stricter regulation of antibiotic sales, and widespread community health education. Public health experts have underscored the need to adopt more responsible prescribing practices in line with global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) containment guidelines.
Given the rapid evolution of drug-resistant strains, the team is advocating for the establishment of sustained disease surveillance systems to monitor resistance patterns and guide treatment protocols. Aremu warned that without coordinated and timely interventions, Nigeria risks facing a public health emergency driven by the dual challenges of typhoid fever and antimicrobial resistance.
Other contributors to the study included Prof. Stella Smith and Enyo Sule of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research; Dr. Samuel Abah of the Coventry University Group, London Campus; Dr. Salamatu Mambula-Machunga of the University of Abuja; and Dr. Hussaini Majiya of IBB University, among others.