Temporal and geographic distribution of multidrug-resistant human bacterial pathogens in urban waste piles, Blantyre, Malawi, 2022-2023

This dataset contains information relating to the temporal and geographic distribution of clinically relevant bacterial pathogens on waste materials (plastics, fabrics, organics) within urban waste piles, in Blantyre, Malawi. The data was collected between June 2022 and July 2023. This work was supported by the UKRI Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) as part of the GCRF SPACES project [grant number NE/V005847/1] and the Plastic Vectors project, "Microbial hitch-hikers of marine plastics: the survival, persistence & ecology of microbial communities in the 'Plastisphere'" [grant number NE/S005196/1]. Samples of plastic, fabric and organic material were collected from the environment. Isolate recovery, identification and antimicrobial resistance were investigated in controlled laboratory settings. Data underwent thorough validation at each stage, including replication, selective media confirmation, and regression modelling, ensuring high reliability and accuracy before submission.