Antibiotic resistance is becoming an increasingly serious public health challenge in Morocco, with new research showing that many common bacterial infections are becoming more difficult to treat using standard medications.
A 2022 review published in BMC Infectious Diseases, which analyzed 49 studies conducted between 2011 and 2021, found alarmingly high resistance rates among major bacterial pathogens, including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Acinetobacter baumannii.
The review reported that Escherichia coli showed median resistance rates of 90.9% to amoxicillin, 64% to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, and 56% to co-trimoxazole. Acinetobacter baumannii recorded a median resistance rate of 74.5% to imipenem, an antibiotic often reserved for severe infections.
More recent findings from a 2024 study at Mohammed VI University Hospital in Tangier reinforce the growing concern. Based on more than 4,500 clinical samples, the study found that nearly half of all multidrug-resistant infections originated in intensive care units. The most common resistant organisms were ESBL-producing Enterobacterales (42.3%), followed by multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (21.7%) and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (13.3%).
Medical experts say the rise in antimicrobial resistance is limiting treatment options and making patient care more complex. Dr. Nisrine Maachi, a public-sector physician, said drug-resistant infections have become a daily challenge in hospitals.
“Every day we see multidrug-resistant organisms that require hospitalization and intravenous antibiotics at high doses for extended periods,” she said.
According to Dr. Maachi, several factors have contributed to the problem, including the excessive use of antibiotics during the COVID-19 pandemic, easy access to antibiotics without prescriptions, and widespread self-medication. She noted that azithromycin, a drug typically reserved for serious bacterial infections, was frequently used by people to treat common colds and mild respiratory symptoms during the pandemic.
She also warned that antibiotics remain far too accessible, encouraging misuse that accelerates the development of resistant bacteria.
Researchers behind the 2022 review similarly identified the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in both human healthcare and veterinary medicine as major drivers of antimicrobial resistance in Morocco, underscoring the need for stronger regulation, improved prescribing practices, and greater public awareness.
