Spatio-temporal trends of the prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum antimalarial drug resistance markers across sub-Saharan Africa from 2010 to 2024: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
BMC Infect DisSep 3, 2026 (epub)
Francis Emmanuel Towanou Bohissou, Guétawendé Job Wilfried Nassa, Juliana Inoue et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum antimalarial drug resistance markers across sub-Saharan Africa from 2010 to 2024. The study found that PfKelch13 mutations reached prevalences of 10-25% in East Africa, while resistance to Pfcrt K76T decreased from 76% in 2010 to 9% in 2023, indicating significant regional variability in resistance patterns.
Key findings
- PfKelch13 mutations showed 10-25% prevalence in East Africa from 2014 to 2023.
- Pfcrt K76T prevalence decreased from 76% in 2010 to 9% in 2023.
- Pfmdr1 N86Y prevalence fell from 34% to zero between 2010 and 2023.
- Certain SP resistance markers remained near fixation, particularly in East and Central Africa.
Why it matters
Understanding the evolving patterns of antimalarial drug resistance is crucial for clinicians to adapt treatment strategies and ensure the effectiveness of artemisinin-based combination therapies in affected regions.