Bel Makanda is a medical biology postgraduate student at the Catholic University of Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, with research interests in medical microbiology, antimicrobial resistance, infectious diseases, and public health. His research focuses on respiratory health, environmental risk factors, multidrug-resistant bacteria, and healthcare challenges in resource-limited settings. He has presented research abstracts at international scientific conferences and has publications in clinical and public health research. He also has practical experience in tandem mass spectrometry, biological sample preparation, analytical workflows, and interpretation of laboratory results. Through his academic and research activities, he aims to contribute to scientific knowledge and improve public health outcomes, particularly in underserved communities.

High prevalence of multidrug-resistant and ESBL-producing Escherichia colifrom clinical and environmental sources in Lusaka, Zambia:

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an increasing public health threat in sub-Saharan Africa. Data on the resistance profiles of Escherichia coli in clinical and environmental settings remain limited. This study investigates the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of E. coli in Lusaka to support local antibiotic stewardship and surveillance strategies. 

A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to June 2023 in Lusaka, Zambia. A total of 450 clinical (urine,blood, wound swabs) and environmental (water, surfaces) samples were collected. Escherichia coli isolates were identified using standard microbiological procedures and confirmed with the VITEK® 2 Compact system. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed according to CLSI 2022 guidelines, and data were analyzed using WHONET 2022 and SPSS v25. Multidrug resistance (MDR) was defined as resistance to at least one antimicrobial agent in at least three antimicrobial categories, and ESBL production was confirmed phenotypically.

Out of 450 samples, 215 (47.8%) tested positive for Escherichia coli. Clinical isolates accounted for 37.8% of the samples, while environmental samples represented 10%. High resistance rates were observed for ampicillin (81.4%), sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (70.7%), ciprofloxacin (67.9%), and ceftriaxone (62.3%). Susceptibility remained preserved for amikacin (100%), meropenem (99.5%), and nitrofurantoin (89.3%). Multidrug resistance (MDR) was detected in 66.5% of isolates, and 42.8% showed ESBL production. The distribution of ESBL-producing strains was comparable between clinical (45.2%) and environmental (38.9%) sources, indicating widespread circulation of highly resistant strains.