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Background. Escherichia coli bacteria are Gram-negative, non-spore-forming aerobes or facultative anaerobic rods. Some strains are pathogenic in men while others are commensals in the gut. The pathogenic strains cause a wide array of diseases by virtue of virulence factors. The commensal strains are generally categorized into phylogenetic groups A and B1. The aim of this study was to determine the association between phylogeny of E. coli isolates and virulence and sociodemographic characteristics of the study subjects. Method. This study was a cross-sectional study carried out from July 2018 to June 2019. E. coli isolates obtained from different clinical specimens were subjected to polymerase chain reaction to determine their phylogenetic groupings and virulence. Results. The majority of the isolates belonged to phylogroup A 101 (74.8%), and the predominant virulent gene was fimA (88.9%). There was no significant correlation between phylogenicity and virulence, except for chuA which was found in all isolates that belonged to phylogroups clade I and D. None of the 101 isolates that belonged to group A had the chuA virulence gene. There was a significant association between patient age category and phylogenetic groups B1 and D. Conclusions. This study assessed the relationship between the phylogenetic distribution and the virulence profile of clinical isolates of E. coli. The virulence of isolates belonging to phylogroup A, which are generally considered as commensals, is alarming. Measures must therefore be put in place to control the spread of these virulent E. coli.

Treponemal infections can be blood-borne with great public health consequences. This study is aimed at comparatively describing the five-year (2013-2017) regional epidemiology of treponemal infection using pregnant women in the sentinel survey and apparently healthy blood donors as a proxy for the general population at four sentinel sites in the Volta and Oti Regions of Ghana. We analyzed retrospective data from 17,744 prospective blood donors aged 18 to 58 years and 7,817 pregnant women in a sentinel survey with ages from 15 to 49 years at Hohoe, Ho, Tongu, and Krachi West sentinel sites in the Volta and Oti Regions. Laboratory data extracted include variables such as age, gender, date of blood donation, and Treponema pallidum chromatographic immunoassay results from the blood banks of the four study sites. The five-year treponemal infection rate among the pregnant women in the sentinel survey and prospective blood donors was 0.79% and 2.38%, respectively. Site-specific infection rate for population-based/sentinel survey was 4.6%/1.1%, 2.0%/0.5%, 1.3%/1.1, and 1.2%/0.3% for Hohoe, Ho, Krachi West, and Tongu, respectively. Significant gender disparity in Treponemal infection rate exists with a male preponderance. The regional infection rate in the sentinel survey is lower compared to the general population. Therefore, the use of pregnant women as a proxy for population estimates could underestimate the burden in the study jurisdiction.

BACKGROUND: Studies over the past decades have observed a sharp rise in the prevalence and incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A highly sensitive and specific predictive tool for risky populations is essential. This study assessed two significant diabetes mellitus predictive tools for effectiveness and accuracy among people living in fishing communities in Cape Coast, Ghana. METHOD: In April 2019, we recruited one hundred and thirty-five (135) fishermen from three fishing communities in Cape Coast in the Central Region of Ghana. Each participant underwent a standard metabolic procedure including clinical examination as well as taking of anthropometric variables such as weight, height, waist and hip circumference were also measured. The FINDRISC questionnaire was used to gather data from the respective participants. Serum glucose and lipids were estimated with enzymatic techniques, and metabolic syndrome (MetS) screened with the international diabetes federation (IDF) criteria. RESULTS: Of the 135 participants, 71 (52.6%) were women. The average age of study participants was 52 ± 16 years with females averagely older (56.6 ± 15.0) than the males (47.3 ± 15.0). This study recorded 31.1% and 8.9% prediabetic and diabetic fishermen respectively. Frequency of both prediabetes and diabetes was significantly predominant among females (71.4% vs 83.3%) than males (26.2% vs 25.0%) (p

BACKGROUND: The growing burden of antibiotic resistance is a threat to the management of infections. Infections by Escherichia coli are routinely treated with fluoroquinolone antimicrobial agents. Due to their frequent use, there has been increasing resistance to these drugs. We set out to determine the burden of fluoroquinolone resistance among clinical E. coli isolates at the Ho Teaching Hospital, Ghana.METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted from July 2018 to June 2019. One hundred and thirty-five E. coli isolates were cultured from various clinical samples. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method with discs of nalidixic acid (NAL), ciprofloxacin (CIP), norfloxacin (NOR) and levofloxacin (LEV). Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted from the resistant isolates for the detection of fluoroquinolone resistant genes by polymerase chain reaction.RESULTS: Ninety of the 135 isolates (66.7%) were resistant to at least one of the four fluoroquinolone drugs investigated. Resistance to NAL, CIP, NOR, and LEV was 51.0%, 51.1%, 38.8% and 35.7% respectively. Out of the fluoroquinolone resistant isolates, 69 carried one or more fluoroquinolone resistant genes. The predominant resistant genes were aac(6’)-Ib-cr (48.9%) and qnrD (25.6%). Seven of the isolates carried both qnrS and aac(6’)- Ib-cr genes. Two isolates carried 5 different fluoroquinolone resistant genes.CONCLUSION: High prevalence of resistance to 4 fluoroquinolone drugs was recorded with associated resistant genes. This is a threat to current efforts to control the spread of antibiotic resistance and calls for concerted efforts to curb the spread of these resistant organisms.

The growing burden of antibiotic resistance is a threat to the management of infections. Infections by Escherichia coli are routinely treated with fluoroquinolone antimicrobial agents. Due to their frequent use, there has been increasing resistance to these drugs. We set out to determine the burden of fluoroquinolone resistance among clinical E. coli isolates at the Ho Teaching Hospital, Ghana.This was a cross-sectional study conducted from July 2018 to June 2019. One hundred and thirty-five E. coli isolates were cultured from various clinical samples. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method with discs of nalidixic acid (NAL), ciprofloxacin (CIP), norfloxacin (NOR) and levofloxacin (LEV). Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted from the resistant isolates for the detection of fluoroquinolone resistant genes by polymerase chain reaction.Ninety of the 135 isolates (66.7%) were resistant to at least one of the four fluoroquinolone drugs investigated. Resistance to NAL, CIP, NOR, and LEV was 51.0%, 51.1%, 38.8% and 35.7% respectively. Out of the fluoroquinolone resistant isolates, 69 carried one or more fluoroquinolone resistant genes. The predominant resistant genes were aac(6')-Ib-cr (48.9%) and qnrD (25.6%). Seven of the isolates carried both qnrS and aac(6')-Ib-cr genes. Two isolates carried 5 different fluoroquinolone resistant genes.High prevalence of resistance to 4 fluoroquinolone drugs was recorded with associated resistant genes. This is a threat to current efforts to control the spread of antibiotic resistance and calls for concerted efforts to curb the spread of these resistant organisms.

Convulsion is a typical symptom associated with epilepsy. Jatropha gossypifolia, a common plant in Ghana, has been used traditionally for the management of epilepsy. This study was carried out to ascertain the scientific basis for the traditional utility of Jatropha gossypifolia for various convulsive disorders and also determine the part of the plant with the most anticonvulsant activity. The anticonvulsant activity of the leaf, root, and fruit extracts in doses of 30–300 mg/kg was assessed using the picrotoxin-induced seizure models in mice. The drugs and chemical preparations used included diazepam, picrotoxin, ethanol (70%), and normal saline. GraphPad Prism 6 was used for all statistical analysis and plotting of graphs. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, followed by Bonferroni’s multiple comparison test. The leaf extract significantly and dose-independently reduced the frequency of myoclonic jerks ( P = 0.0001 ) and decreased the duration of clonic convulsions ( P = 0.019 ). The root extract also significantly and dose-dependently reduced the frequency of myoclonic jerks ( P = 0.001 ) but only decreased the frequency of tonic convulsions at 100 mg/kg ( P = 0.006 ). It also significantly decreased the duration of tonic convulsions ( P = 0.0001 ). The fruit extract only significantly and dose-independently reduced the frequency of myoclonic jerks ( P = 0.0001 ). It, however, showed an increase in the duration of both clonic and tonic convulsions. The study shows that the leaves and roots of Jatropha gossypifolia produce anticonvulsant activity which may be through enhancement of GABAergic transmission or activation of GABA receptors which support the traditional use of the plant to treat epileptic fits.

Annually, ten million cases of tuberculosis (TB) and about 1.8 million mortalities are recorded. Adherence to TB treatment not only reduces death outcomes but prevents prolonged sickness, transmission to others, and the development of multidrug-resistant TB. This study is aimed at determining the rate of treatment adherence, knowledge of TB infection, and the possible factors influencing adherence to TB treatment in the Ketu North District in the Volta Region of Ghana. A cross-sectional study design was employed. A semistructured questionnaire was used to obtain data from respondents. Adherence to TB treatment and knowledge level about TB infection were assessed. A Chi-square test analysis was used to determine the variables that were associated with treatment adherence. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine potential factors that contribute to treatment adherence. A total of 125 TB registrants were enrolled in the study. The majority (102 (81.6%)) adhered to the TB treatment regimen. However, the level of knowledge about night sweat being a symptom of TB infection was relatively low (78 (62.4%)). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the male gender was about three times more likely ( OR = 2.978 , 95 % CI = 1.173 ‐ 7.561 ; p = 0.022 ) to be associated with adherence to TB treatment. However, food availability ( OR = 2.208 , 95% CI (0.848-5.753); p = 0.10 ) and household size ( OR = 0.538 , 95% CI (0.195-1.483); p = 0.23 ) were not significantly associated with treatment adherence. In this study, adherence to TB treatment and the knowledge level of TB infection were high. However, the knowledge level of night sweat being a symptom of TB infection was relatively low. Being a male was significantly associated with treatment adherence. An intensified health education on the symptoms of TB infection is therefore recommended.

Background. The WHO targets to end HIV/AIDS as a public health problem by 2030. The introduction of the ambitious “90-90-90” strategy to attain this target is expected to be achieved by the year 2020. However, there is lack of regional data, especially on the third “90.” This study sought to assess the rate and associated factors of viral suppression among people living with HIV (PLWH) on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) at the Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Clinic in a Ghanaian health facility.Method. The study design was a retrospective analysis of secondary data of 284 HIV registrants on HAART for at least 6 months at the ART Clinic from July 2016 to April 2019. Data on sociodemography including age, gender, marital status, education, and occupation as well as pharmacological (type of medication and duration on medication) and laboratory variable (current viral load results) were extracted from patients’ folders. Viral suppression and failure were determined using the WHO definitions (viral suppression as viral load Results. Out of the 284 HIV patients, 195 (69%) achieved viral suppression. Of the 195 who were virally suppressed, 77 (39.5%) had undetectable levels, with a similar proportion (39.5%) achieving viral load results ranging from 20 to 200 copies/ml. Moreover, 27 (13.8%) patients had viral load ranging from 201 to 500 copies/ml while 14 (7.2%) recorded viral load from 501 to 1000 copies/ml. No clear pattern in the viral suppression rate was associated with the age groups (p=0.1152). However, regular clinic attendance (used as proxy for medication adherence) (p<0.0001) and being on HAART for more than three (3) years (p=0.03) were associated with viral suppression.Conclusion. The rate of viral suppression among PLWH on HAART in the Ho municipality fell short of the WHO target. However, the study identified regular ART clinic attendance and treatment >3 years as factors associated with viral suppression.

Abstract Background: Treponemal infection is contagious and one of the oldest blood-borne infections, with great public health consequences. This study aimed to comparatively describe the five–year (2013-2017) regional epidemiology of Treponemal infection using pregnant women in the Sentinel Survey and apparently healthy blood donors as proxy for the general population at the four sentinel sites in the Volta Region of Ghana. Method: We analysed retrospectively data from 17,744 prospective blood donors aged between 18 to 58 years and 7,805 pregnant women in a Sentinel Survey who fell within the 15 and 49 years age bracket at Hohoe, Ho, Tongu and Krachi-West sentinel sites in the Volta Region. Data extracted included age, gender, date of blood donation and Treponena pallidum chromatographic immunoassay results from the blood banks of the four study sites. Published reports of Sentinel Surveys conducted at the four sentinel sites from the years 2013-2017 were retrieved. Results: The cumulative five-year prevalence of Treponemal infections among the pregnant women in the Sentinel Survey and prospective blood donors was 0.38% and 2.38% respectively. Site-specific prevalence for population-base/Sentinel survey was 4.6%/0.4%, 2.0%/0.2%, 1.3%/0.8 and 1.2%/0.2 for Hohoe, Ho, Krachi-West and Tongu respectively. Treponemal infection rates among the younger age groups (15-24years) were 0.31% in the sentinel survey and 2.22% in the general population. Significant gender disparity in Treponemal infection exist with male preponderance. Conclusion: The regional prevalence of Treponemal infection in the Sentinel Survey is lower compared to the general population. Therefore, the use of pregnant women as proxy for population estimate could lead to underestimation of the burden in the study jurisdiction.

Background: Syphilis is contagious and one of the oldest sexually transmitted infections, with great public health consequences. This study aimed to comparatively describe the five–year (2013-2017) regional epidemiology of syphilis infection using pregnant women in the Sentinel Survey and apparently healthy blood donors as proxy for the general population at the four sentinel sites in the Volta Region of Ghana. Method: We analysed retrospectively data from 17,744 prospective blood donors aged between 18 to 58 years and 7,805 pregnant women in a Sentinel Survey who fell within the 15 and 49 years age bracket at Hohoe, Ho, Tongu and Krachi-West sentinel sites in the Volta Region. Data extracted included age, gender, date of blood donation and Treponena pallidum chromatographic immunoassay results from the blood banks of the four study sites. Published reports of Sentinel Surveys conducted at the four sentinel sites from the years 2013-2017 were retrieved. Results: The cumulative five-year prevalence of syphilis infections among the pregnant women in the Sentinel Survey and prospective blood donors was 0.38% and 2.38% respectively. Site-specific prevalence for population-base/Sentinel survey was 4.6%/0.4%, 2.0%/0.2%, 1.3%/0.8 and 1.2%/0.2 for Hohoe, Ho, Krachi-West and Tongu respectively. New Syphilis infection rate was 0.31% in the sentinel survey and 2.22% in the general population. Significant gender disparity in syphilis infection exist with male preponderance. Conclusion: The regional prevalence of syphilis infection in the Sentinel Survey is lower compared to the general population. Therefore, the use of pregnant women as proxy for population estimate could lead to underestimation of the burden in the study jurisdiction.