Lawal calls for stronger antibiotic control after hospital resistance study

By: Opeyemi Samuel

A Nigerian medical laboratory scientist, Olabisi Promise Lawal, has led an internationally published study highlighting the growing threat of multidrug-resistant hospital infections in Nigeria.

Lawal, who trained at the University of Benin, conducted the research to investigate how dangerous bacteria are evolving within Nigerian healthcare facilities.

The peer-reviewed study was published in an international journal called Microbes, Infection and Chemotherapy.

The research focuses on antimicrobial resistance, which the World Health Organization has repeatedly identified as one of the most serious global public health threats.

Experts say rising antibiotic resistance could reverse decades of medical progress if urgent measures are not taken.

According to the study, weak regulation of antibiotics, widespread self-medication, limited laboratory infrastructure and inconsistent infection control practices contribute significantly to the problem in developing health systems.

Lawal’s research specifically examined Klebsiella pneumoniae, a clinically important pathogen responsible for urinary tract infections, pneumonia, bloodstream infections and surgical site infections.

The study analysed 300 clinical samples collected from infected patients at a Nigerian teaching hospital.

Of the samples examined, 54 were confirmed as Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Among these, 22 isolates showed multidrug resistance to several commonly prescribed antibiotic classes.

Eight isolates, representing 14.8 per cent, were identified as Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) producers.

These strains produce enzymes capable of breaking down powerful beta-lactam antibiotics, including third-generation cephalosporins widely used in hospital treatment.

“Our findings demonstrate that resistance is not a distant threat. It is already present within hospital systems,” Lawal said.

She warned that without stronger antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention strategies, treatment options could become increasingly limited.

The research also identified two dominant resistance genes, blaTEM and blaSHV, which drive antibiotic resistance in the isolates.

Interestingly, the globally prevalent blaCTX-M gene commonly reported in Europe and Asia was not detected in the samples.

Lawal said the absence of the gene suggests that antibiotic resistance may be evolving along a distinct molecular pathway within Nigerian healthcare environments.

The study further showed that multidrug resistance was most common among patients aged 65 years and above.

However, resistant strains were also detected among younger adults.

Longer hospital stays were also linked to increased resistance rates, highlighting healthcare facilities as potential transmission points for resistant organisms.

Lawal attributed the growing challenge to several systemic factors, including over-the-counter antibiotic access, incomplete treatment courses and limited diagnostic capacity.

“Antibiotics are a shared national asset. When misuse becomes widespread, bacterial adaptation accelerates,” she said.

She called for stronger regulatory oversight of antibiotic distribution, improved laboratory surveillance and stricter infection control measures in hospitals.

Lawal also advocated public education campaigns to discourage unnecessary antibiotic use.

She stressed that evidence-based policy decisions are critical to tackling antimicrobial resistance and protecting the effectiveness of life-saving medicines.

According to her, locally generated research data will play a vital role in guiding Nigeria’s national response to the growing threat.

“Science must inform action. The decisions we take today will determine the resilience of our healthcare system for generations,” Lawal said.