The misapplication of antimicrobials in both human medicine and food production poses a serious risk to every nation, especially given the scarcity of new antimicrobial agents in development.
Shedding light on this issue in the context of Kenya, researchers at the Digital Health Applied Research Center (DHARC), domiciled at JKUAT, conducted a comprehensive assessment across 28 facilities in 10 counties. Their goal was to evaluate the diagnostic capacity for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), examine antibiotic use, and assess existing antimicrobial stewardship practices.
This endeavor, funded by the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) and the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP), with support from the Ministry of Health, targeted a spectrum of health facilities (private, public, and faith-based) in Nairobi, Kajiado, Kilifi, Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Laikipia, Isiolo, Vihiga, Nandi, and Kericho.