Staphylococcus aureus in Gambian children shows high penicillin resistance and 13.6% MRSA prevalence

A retrospective population-based cohort study of children younger than 5 years in two regions of The Gambia found 162 Staphylococcus aureus isolates between September 2019 and December 2023. Penicillin resistance was highest at 86.4%, while 22.8% of isolates were classified as multidrug-resistant and 13.6% were identified as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), according to the study abstract.

Resistance to other commonly used antibiotics was lower: 26.5% for co-trimoxazole, 25.3% for tetracycline, 17.3% for erythromycin, 13.6% for cefoxitin and 7.4% for chloramphenicol. Ciprofloxacin and gentamicin each showed resistance in 3.1% of isolates. The abstract also reports that resistance patterns differed between the study sites and that 38.5% of multidrug-resistant isolates came from neonates.

The researchers analysed data from population-based surveillance at the Basse and Fulladu West Health and Demographic Surveillance Sites in the Upper River and Central River Regions. All children under 5 who resided in the two catchment areas were under surveillance, and cases of invasive bacterial disease were identified at all 11 health facilities serving those sites. When indicated under standardised criteria for suspected sepsis, pneumonia or meningitis, investigators collected blood, cerebrospinal fluid, lung aspirates and/or pleural aspirates.

Culture-positive samples underwent standard microbiological identification. Antibiotic susceptibility was assessed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method, with results interpreted according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. The study was retrospective and population-based, covered two surveillance sites and a September 2019–December 2023 collection period, and the reported results concern the 162 S. aureus isolates tested.

The abstract identifies high penicillin resistance and measurable multidrug resistance and MRSA prevalence among isolates from children younger than 5 in the study setting. The reported data cover the two Gambian surveillance regions and 11 facilities, so the findings describe the study population and period rather than establishing resistance trends beyond that setting. The authors state in the abstract that the results reinforce the importance of ongoing antimicrobial-resistance surveillance, prudent antibiotic use and targeted interventions.

Subject of Research: Antibiotic resistance among Staphylococcus aureus isolates from children under 5 in two regions of The Gambia

Article Title: Antibiotic resistance profile of Staphylococcus aureus in pediatric cases from rural Gambia

Article References: Jallow, M. J. S., Osei, I., Wutor, B. M., Barjo, O., Omotosho, M., Wally, M., Minteh, M., Kuyateh, A., Drammeh, M. M., Mendy, S., Badji, H., Jallow, S. J., Sarwar, G., Salaudeen, R., & Mackenzie, G. A. (2026). Antibiotic resistance profile of Staphylococcus aureus in pediatric cases from rural Gambia. BMC Infectious Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-026-14487-w

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1186/s12879-026-14487-w

Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus, antimicrobial resistance, MRSA, multidrug resistance, penicillin resistance, pediatric infections, Gambia, population surveillance, bacterial sepsis, Kirby-Bauer testing, Antibiotic, resistance