A systematic review and meta-analysis of integrated studies on antimicrobial resistance in Vietnam, with a focus on Enterobacteriaceae, from a One Health perspective

Abstract

Vietnam is a low- and middle-income country (LMIC), a primary food producer, and an antimicrobial resistance (AMR) hotspot. AMR is recognized as a One Health challenge since it may transfer between humans, animals and the environment. This study aimed to apply systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the phenotypic profiles and correlations of antimicrobial-resistant Enterobacteriaceae across three compartments: humans, animals and the environment in Vietnam. A total of 89 articles found in PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar databases were retrieved for qualitative synthesis. E. coli and non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) were the most common bacterial species in studies of all compartments (60/89 studies). Among antimicrobials classified as critically important, the resistance levels were observed to be highest to quinolones, 3rd generation of cephalosporins, penicillins, and aminoglycosides. Of 89 studies, 55 articles reported the resistance prevalence of E. coli and NTS in healthy humans, animals and the environment against ciprofloxacin, ceftazidime, ampicillin, gentamicin, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, chloramphenicol was used for meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence was found highest in E. coli against ampicillin 84.0% (95% CI 73.0–91.0%) and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim 66.0% (95% CI 56.0–75.0%) while in NTS they were 34.0% (95% CI 24.0–46.0%), 33.0% (95% CI 25.0–42.0%), respectively. There were no significant differences in the pooled prevalence of E. coli and NTS to these antimicrobials across healthy humans, animals and the environment, except for ceftazidime-resistant E. coli (χ ² = 8.29, p = 0.02), chloramphenicol-resistant E.coli (χ ² = 9.65, p < 0.01) and chloramphenicol-resistant NTS (χ ² = 7.51, p = 0.02). Findings from the multiple meta-regression models indicated that the AMR levels in E. coli (β = 1.887, p < 0.001) and the North (β = 0.798, p = 0.047) had a higher fraction of AMR than NTS and other regions of Vietnam. The outcomes of this study play an important role as the baseline information for further investigation and follow-up intervention strategies to tackle AMR in Vietnam, and more generally, can be adapted to other LMICs.

Highlights

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  This review reports the high AMR levels of E. coli and NTS in Vietnam, especially to critically important antimicrobials.

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  There was a marginal difference in the AMR levels in the three compartments of humans, animals and the environment.

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  The North of Vietnam and E. coli had higher levels of AMR compared with other regions of Vietnam and NTS.

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  The results highlight the gaps in research for further investigation and future strategies to mitigate AMR in Vietnam.

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  Implementation of AMR surveillance- under the One Health approach is required to tackle the AMR problems in Vietnam.