{
  "abstract": "Background\n\nAntibiotic resistance is becoming a serious problem in chicken production globally due to the use of antibiotics. In Mzimba, the multiple antibiotic resistance index (MARI) pattern in chicken meat is not known and has not been documented.Objective\n\nTo assess the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Enterobacter species in broiler chicken meat sold in informal markets in Mzimba District, Malawi, using the MAR index.Materials and method\n\nA cross-sectional study was conducted between March and May 2025. A total of 100 meat samples were collected from the informal markets across the district. A stratified sampling technique was used to select chicken meat samples from various markets. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were performed using R version 4.5.3.Results\n\nE. coli (69%) and Enterobacter (12%) species were the most frequently isolated pathogens. The highest prevalence of antibiotic resistance was observed in E. coli against ampicillin (91%), meropenem (83%), and tetracycline (71%). Similarly, Enterobacter spp. showed substantial resistance to tetracycline (83%), ampicillin (83%) and meropenem (75%). The MAR index values were considerably high, ranging from 0.1 to 0.75. A total of 97.1%, 91.7% and 100% of the positive isolates of E. coli, Enterobacter and Salmonella spp., respectively, had MAR index values over 0.2. Location was the most significant predictor of the MAR index (p = 6.096 × 10⁻⁵, η² = 0.372).Conclusions and recommendations\n\nHigh levels of the MAR index were revealed in this study. As such, combating MDR requires coordinated multisectoral approaches through One Health programs that integrate surveillance, policies, and innovation to prevent and control antimicrobial resistance.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Animal Production and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Eduardo Mondlane University, Bairro Luis Cabral, Avenida de Moçambique, Km 1.5, Maputo P.O. Box 257, Mozambique.",
    "Centre of Excellence in Agri-Food Systems and Nutrition (CE-AFSN), Eduardo Mondlane University, Praça 25 de Junho Posta 257 Edifício da Reitoria 5◦ Andar, Maputo P.O. Box 257, Mozambique.",
    "Mzuzu Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Mzuzu P.O. Box 8, Malawi.",
    "Department of Biomedical Sciences, Malamulo College of Health Science Campus, Malawi Adventist University, Makwasa P.O. Box 55, Malawi.",
    "Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Eduardo Mondlane University, Avenida de Moçambique, Km 1.5, Maputo P.O. Box 257, Mozambique.",
    "Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, The University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin Ave., Tucson, AZ 85724, USA.",
    "Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust, Chichiri, Blantyre P.O. Box 30096, Malawi."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 16,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Abel Compbel Chipembo",
      "orcid": "0009-0007-7839-1389"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Martin Henderson Kalumbi",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-3247-1574"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Aminata Kamara"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Naserah Fatmata Koroma"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Marie Louise Iragena"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        4
      ],
      "name": "Kumbukani Chikosa",
      "orcid": "0009-0008-6038-5738"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Mary Maimu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Goliath Eneya Zulu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Precious Innocent Mastala"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Sam Mvula"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        4
      ],
      "name": "Thomas Malinki",
      "orcid": "0009-0009-5680-3826"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Rejoice Msiska",
      "orcid": "0009-0006-8918-7730"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Alberto Pondja"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Janelisa Musaya",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-2928-0133"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Belisário Moiane"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Niura Madalena Bila",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-4236-3366"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8sc24snk7z6s9.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3390/antibiotics15101028",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13700800",
  "id": "8sc24snk7z6s9",
  "issns": [
    "2079-6382"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42938769",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "1313|Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7167054112",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13700800?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13700800",
  "pmid": "42938769",
  "published": "2026-10-16",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8sc24snk7z6s9.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:22:12Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42938769",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42938769"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:1313|Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Phenotypic Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns in E. coli, Salmonella, and Enterobacter Species Isolated from Broiler Chicken Meat in Mzimba, Malawi: Insights from the Multiple Antibiotic Resistance Index.",
  "title_text": "Phenotypic Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns in E. coli, Salmonella, and Enterobacter Species Isolated from Broiler Chicken Meat in Mzimba, Malawi: Insights from the Multiple Antibiotic Resistance Index.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:22:12Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8sc24snk7z6s9",
  "venue": "Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)",
  "versions": []
}