Research Article published by African Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 11(2), 14 January 2017
Antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli and Salmonella are an increasing challenge to global health. In
Tanzania reliable data is limited for trends of resistance in major hospital-acquired pathogens. Data on
the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant E. coli and Salmonella from Tanzanian sources (2004-2014) was
extracted from PubMed and Google Scholar databases (April -June, 2015). Descriptive statistics and
logistic-regression analysis were used to estimate the prevalence and trends for resistant E. coli and
Salmonella to selected antibiotics using R software. A total of 24 articles were availablefor review, of
which 21/24 (87.5%) and 7/24 (29.2%) reported the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant E. coli and
Salmonella, respectively. Across all studies the average prevalence of resistance to ampicillin and cotrimoxazole
was higher for E. coli (81.6 and 77.7%, respectively) than for Salmonella (64.7and 59.3%,
respectively). Both groups of pathogens were also resistant to ciprofloxacin (20-22%) and 3rd-
generation cephalosporins (2.5-27.8%). A logistic-regression model for published data (2004-2014)
indicated that during this period of time there has been a significant increase to amoxicillin/clavulanate,
ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin and gentamicin in E. coli (P< 0.001), and a significant increase in resistance
to ampicillin for Salmonella (P < 0.05).Decreased E. coli and Salmonella susceptibility to critical
antibiotics threatens the effective treatment of these infections in Tanzania. Proactive strategies are
needed to preserve these antibiotics that remain largely active against bacterial pathogens in Tanzania.