The global spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses an increasing challenge for clinicians in Uganda, where microbiological diagnostics are not routinely available or accessible. In a recent study, a research team in Uganda sought to analyze pathogen prevalence and antimicrobial resistance patterns in wound infections from high-energy trauma cases, such as those experienced in the country’s highly prevalent road traffic accidents. The study team conducted antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) on the wounds of 124 patients admitted to the largest orthopedic/trauma unit in Uganda. Their AST results showed a high level of resistance to the most common empiric antibiotics, leading to a change in antimicrobial treatment for the majority of all study patients.

Laura Jung, MS, Department of Medicine I, Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Leipzig University Medical Center, Germany
James Kiwanuka, Department of Orthopedics/Trauma, Mulago National Referral Hospital, Uganda
Leah Mbabazi, MPH, Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Uganda

PLOS Global Public Health
August 15, 2023