🇿🇦 English, 29 October 2026, antimicrobial stewardship
AI Could Help Africa Tackle Antimicrobial Resistance, But Evidence Remains Limited
A commentary argues that AI could strengthen antimicrobial stewardship in Africa, but most applications remain at pilot or research stages.
The WHO African Region has seen an estimated 1.05 million deaths in 2019 due to bacterial antimicrobial resistance, with sub-Saharan Africa recording some of the highest mortality rates globally.
Weak regulatory frameworks, shortages of specialists, and poor surveillance systems have contributed to the problem, with only 27 of 47 countries in the region reporting antimicrobial resistance data in 2023.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning have shown promise in addressing these challenges, but evidence of their use in routine stewardship remains limited, with most studies focusing on retrospective validation or proof of concept rather than prospective evaluation of interventions.