The dissemination of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) by flies in hospitals is concerning as antimicrobial resistant (AMR) infections pose a significant threat to human health. This is compounded in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) by several factors, including limited resources for sufficient infection prevention and control (IPC) practices and a high abundance of flies in regions that sit within the tropical rain belt. The AVIAR study investigates the role of arthropods in the carriage and dissemination of AMR and infectious bacteria, predominantly in resource limited LMICs where flies are often pests yet understudied as contributors to the global AMR crisis.
In this pilot study, 1,396 flies were collected between August and September 2022 from eight tertiary hospitals spread over six distinct geographical regions of Nigeria (Abuja, Enugu, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos and Sokoto). Less...