Experts studying antimicrobial resistance warn that pregnant women exposed to colistin, an antibiotic commonly used in livestock feed and agricultural products, are more likely to have babies with antibiotic-resistant infections, posing a significant health risk to newborns.
A recent study by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, revealed alarming findings that newborns in Nigeria are being born with colistin-resistant bacteria in their systems, prompting a warning about the risks of antibiotic resistance.
Colistin is a powerful antibiotic currently recognized as one of the few effective treatments for multi-drug resistant bacteria, including those responsible for pneumonia.
Gavi and the researchers noted that while colistin is not typically prescribed in Nigerian hospitals and clinics, it is present in imported livestock feed.
Consequently, pregnant women working in poultry and animal farming could unknowingly be exposed to this bacteria, which may then be transmitted to their infants. The babies might also encounter the bacteria in hospitals or their local communities.
The study conducted from 2015 to 2017 included samples from 4,907 newborns and their mothers across three hospitals in Kano and Abuja.
It revealed that 1 percent of the samples carried genes associated with colistin resistance, affecting 41 mothers and eight babies. Although this percentage may appear small, it is concerning that infants were found to carry colistin-resistant bacteria within their first week of life.
However, NAIJATRAFFIC reported that it is possible for babies with these resistant strains to still receive treatment for pneumonia, emphasizing the urgency for action to prevent deepening issues.
The researchers urged the government to prohibit the importation of livestock feed with colistin and restrict non-prescription sales of antibiotics.
Additionally, they recommended screening pregnant women for antibiotic-resistant bacteria during routine antenatal care to prevent the spread of resistance.
According to the World Health Organization, antimicrobial resistance occurs when antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitic medications become ineffective against the infections they were meant to treat, leading to more challenging infections and a higher risk of severe illness and death.
NAIJATRAFFIC previously reported that traces of antibiotics in food products from animals were contributing to the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Global research indicates that Nigeria experienced approximately 64,500 deaths related to AMR in 2019, with an additional 263,400 deaths associated with AMR.
Professor Ben Onankpa, a pediatrician at Usmanu Danfodiyo University in Sokoto State, expressed concern over newborns being born with multi-drug resistant bacteria, labeling it a serious issue.
He explained that infants are more susceptible to AMR due to their smaller size, noting that untreated pneumonia in babies could result in death within hours.
While he mentioned that colistin-resistant infections are not yet widespread, he emphasized the need for prompt measures to prevent future complications.
“Pregnant women need to attend proper antenatal clinics where they can be screened so that if there is an indication of colistin-resistant bacteria, it could be stopped as soon as possible,” Onankpa emphasized.
He highlighted the importance of antimicrobial stewardship and urged the government to play a proactive role by banning livestock feed containing colistin, as many women engage in poultry farming and may be pregnant.
Onankpa advocated for careful use of antibiotics in Nigeria, emphasizing that pregnant women should attend proper antenatal clinics where screening for colistin-resistant bacteria can occur, enabling prompt intervention if necessary.
He also noted that research is ongoing to develop new medications that could effectively treat such conditions.
When asked whether infants born with colistin-resistant bacteria could still be treated for pneumonia, Onankpa reassured, “For now, it will still be treatable. Although the study that was conducted found it, it is not to the level where we should be worried. But we need to take action now before it gets to the level where we begin to run around to get alternatives, meanwhile, there are none.”
To combat multi-drug resistant bacteria, he advocated for a ban on importing livestock feeds containing colistin and stricter controls on antibiotic sales without a prescription.
He also emphasized the need for antenatal screening of pregnant women, reducing their exposure to livestock feeds, and implementing effective antimicrobial stewardship to prevent over-the-counter antibiotic sales and misuse.
Professor Samuel Taiwo, a Medical Microbiologist at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, added that there has been a rise in AMR cases among children, who are particularly vulnerable to such infections and related deaths.
He noted that infections that were once easily treated, such as gonorrhea, typhoid fever, and pneumonia, are now presenting significant challenges.
Taiwo remarked, “Small infections that we used to treat easily before, we are now struggling with it, particularly in children. Children are very vulnerable to antimicrobial-resistant infections and death from there.”
The expert noted that while the WHO’s Global Action Plan emphasizes the need for new antimicrobial agents, developing a single new antibiotic is a costly and time-consuming process that can take up to a decade to bring to market.
He asserted the necessity of preserving current antibiotics and called for responsible use of antimicrobials.
He also called on the government to crack down on the unchecked sale of antimicrobials, making them only available through a doctor’s prescription to curb their misuse.
