Kenya is turning to a new approach in treating infections that no longer respond to antibiotics, as health experts warn of increasing antimicrobial resistance. The country is working with Slovenia to explore the use of bacteriophages, viruses that attack bacteria, as an alternative treatment. According to Presidential health adviser Dr. Wilson Aruasa, antimicrobial resistance is not only a human health problem but also affects animals and crops, and Kenya has adopted a One Health approach to address the issue.
The use of antibiotics has led to the development of antimicrobial resistance, making some bacterial infections increasingly difficult and expensive to treat. Aruasa stated that about six in every 10 patients who go to hospital are put on antibiotics, sometimes before the exact cause of their illness is known. This has resulted in bacteria changing and medicines that once killed them or stopped their growth no longer working effectively. Patients may need stronger or several medicines, stay longer in hospital, and incur higher treatment costs.
The Slovenia-Kenya Phage Summit was held at the Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi to discuss the use of phages in treating infections. ICPE adviser Jure Tomc praised the steps Kenya and Slovenia had covered in the use of phages and announced that ICPE will continue to support such collaborations. The two countries are already working on a project with the University of Nairobi to use phages against bacterial infections in tomatoes, which can be extended to infections in humans and animals.
Kenyatta National Hospital senior director of clinical services Dr. Joel Lessan stated that hospitals are increasingly encountering bacteria that are resistant to commonly used antibiotics. Doctors sometimes have to combine different medicines to treat such infections, which increases costs and sometimes leads to poor outcomes. Aruasa said AMR is estimated to kill up to 37,000 people in Kenya, making it a major public health concern.
Phage therapy is being explored as one of the approaches to fighting antimicrobial resistance. Aruasa explained that phages are viruses that naturally attack bacteria, and scientists can identify and select particular phages that target specific disease-causing bacteria. Phages are already found naturally in the human body, and the idea is to identify the ones that can attack a particular harmful bacterium, produce them in sufficient quantities, and use them in a controlled way.
The problem of AMR does not stop at hospitals, as antibiotics are also used in animals and agriculture. When bacteria develop resistance, the problem can move across people, animals, food, and the environment. Experts stressed that phages are not a replacement for good hygiene, disease prevention, or responsible use of antibiotics. Dr. Stella Kiambi, a One Health and AMR expert at the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, said phages could become one of the tools used to reduce the need for antibiotics, particularly in farming.
Kenya aims to develop its capacity to manufacture phages locally in collaboration with Slovenia, whose institutions have experience in phage production. The work will involve hospitals, universities, agricultural institutions, and environmental agencies. Aruasa estimated that Kenya could have the capacity to produce phages locally in five to seven years if the necessary processes are successfully completed. The goal is to reduce the pressure on antibiotics while developing new ways of dealing with infections that are becoming harder to treat.
Key points
- - Kenya is exploring the use of bacteriophages as an alternative treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections. - The country has adopted a One Health approach to address antimicrobial resistance, which affects humans, animals, and crops. - Local production of phages is expected to take five to seven years, with the goal of reducing the pressure on antibiotics and developing new ways to deal with infections.
