A new study reveals that houseflies in Nigerian hospitals carry bacteria resistant to important antibiotics. The findings suggest that flies may act as vectors for antimicrobial resistance (AMR), posing a risk to vulnerable patients.
Flies may act as carriers for infections within hospital settings, according to a recent study conducted in Nigeria. Research ers discovered that houseflies in Nigerian hospitals harbor bacteria resistant to crucial antibiotics, including those considered last-resort options. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the development of pathogens such as bacteria and viruses against the drugs designed to combat them, is a growing global health concern.
Tests revealed that the flies carried 17 distinct species of bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, a common culprit behind hospital-acquired infections. A significant portion of the bacteria sampled exhibited genes associated with antimicrobial resistance. While the study design doesn't definitively prove that the flies are spreading these bacteria, Dr. Chioma Achi, the project lead and co-author, suggests that they could act as vectors for AMR in hospitals, particularly in tropical low- and middle-income countries where flies are prevalent. Dr. Achi explains that flies are coprophagic, meaning they consume feces and manure, which can harbor infections. These infections can then be transmitted to hospital surfaces, food, and even patients when flies land on them. The findings echo a previous study conducted in a Pakistan hospital that identified ants, spiders, flies, and cockroaches carrying multidrug-resistant bacteria, with links to surgical site infections in patients. Dr. Kirsty Sands, scientific lead at the Ineos Oxford Institute for antimicrobial research, and co-author of the paper, emphasizes that flies present a potential threat to vulnerable patients, as they commonly land on them. The Nigerian study underscores the importance of considering the interconnectedness between human and animal environments in addressing the AMR challenge. The research team is planning further investigations to determine if insect control measures, such as window screens and bed nets, can help reduce AMR rates in hospitals. This Nigerian study also serves as a pilot for a larger, multi-country study examining the role of insects in AMR within hospital settings
ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE HOSPITAL INFECTIONS FLIES NIGERIA RESEARCH
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