Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41258441›Full record

ArticleCommunications medicine2025

Third-generation Cephalosporin resistance in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Giacomo Guido, Luisa Frallonardo, Muhammad Asaduzzaman, Ferenc Balázs Farkas, Elda De Vita, Amir Seni, Sergio Cotugno, Roberta Papagni, Elmano Gomonda, Francesco Vladimiro Segala and 10 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Communications medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

20 authors.

Giacomo GuidoDepartment of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy. giacguido@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0004-8783-7221
Luisa FrallonardoDepartment of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy.
Muhammad AsaduzzamanDepartment of Community Medicine and Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9048-7980
Ferenc Balázs FarkasDepartment of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0002-9423-7449
Elda De VitaDepartment of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy.
Amir SeniDepartment of Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidade Catolica de Mocambique, Beira, Mozambique.
Sergio CotugnoDepartment of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0005-8867-5911
Roberta PapagniDepartment of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy.
Elmano GomondaDepartment of Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidade Catolica de Mocambique, Beira, Mozambique.
Francesco Vladimiro SegalaDepartment of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5276-2603
Emanuele NicastriNational Institute for Infectious Diseases 'Lazzaro Spallanzani' IRCCS, Rome, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5606-8712
Federico GobbiDepartment of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Verona, Italy.
Laura B NellumsCollege of Population Health, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
Roberta IattaInterdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
Kajal ChhaganlalDepartment of Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidade Catolica de Mocambique, Beira, Mozambique.
Nicola VeroneseSaint Camillus International University of Health Sciences, Rome, Italy.
Giovanni PutotoOperational Research Unit Doctors with Africa CUAMM, Padova, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0256-1744
Carlo TortiDipartimento di Sicurezza e Bioetica - Sezione di Malattie Infettive, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
Annalisa SaracinoDepartment of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy.
Francesco Di GennaroDepartment of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAntimicrobial resistance is a critical global health threat, with Sub-Saharan Africa disproportionately affected. Third-generation cephalosporins are widely used for severe infections due to their safety, broad spectrum, and effectiveness. However, resistance to third-generation cephalosporins undermines treatment and exacerbates poor outcomes in regions with limited alternative therapies. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the prevalence, temporal trends, and geographical variations of resistant pathogens in Sub-Saharan Africa.

methodsWe searched three databases from the inception until 16

resultsHere we show a total of 200 studies involving 355,136 patients. The pooled prevalence of third-generation cephalosporin resistant pathogens is 45.3% (95% CI: 36.7-54.4%). Resistance rates are highest for Klebsiella pneumoniae (57.7%) and Enterobacter spp. (54.2%). Temporal trends show an increase in resistance, with prevalence rising from 22.8% before 2009 to 42.0% in 2020-2024. Geographical disparities are evident, with higher prevalence in East (59.7%) and West Africa (49.8%) compared to Central Africa (27.0%). High-risk settings include neonatal intensive care units, surgical wards, and rural or mixed-care facilities.

conclusionsThird-generation cephalosporin resistant pathogens represent an escalating global health crisis in SSA, exacerbated by regional disparities and rising resistance rates over time. Immediate interventions are needed, including enhanced surveillance and antimicrobial stewardship programs.

Identifiers

PMID41258441
PMCPMC12775075

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.