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Metallo-beta-lactamase-producing Acinetobacter spp. is a major challenge for therapeutic treatment of nosocomial infections. This study is aimed at determining the prevalence of MBL-producing Acinetobacter spp. among 87 clinical isolates of Acinetobacter spp. from the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, between August 2014 and July 2015. Acinetobacter spp. was identified by standard bacteriological method, and resistance to different antibiotics was assessed with the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method. Meropenem-resistant Acinetobacter isolates were screened for enzyme activity using the modified Hodge test (MHT) and combined disc test (CDT). Additionally, multiplex PCR was used to determine MBL genes presence (blaVIM,blaIMP, and blaNDM). All Acinetobacter isolates showed high resistance to cefotaxime (90.8%), ceftazidime (75.9%), cotrimoxazole (70.1%), ciprofloxacin (64.4%), gentamicin (72.4%), levofloxacin (67.8%), and meropenem (59.8%). A total of 54 (62.1%) of Acinetobacter isolates were multidrug-resistant. Out of 52 (59.8%) meropenem-resistant Acinetobacter, 3 (5.8%) were carbapenemase producers by MHT, whilst, 23 (44.2%) were CDT positive. There was no significant difference between the resistance pattern of amikacin, ceftazidime, cotrimoxazole, ciprofloxacin, and meropenem amongst CDT-positive and CDT-negative isolates (p>0.05). A total of 7/87 (8.1%) CDT-positive Acinetobacter isolates harboured blaNDM; of these, 4 (57.1%) were from wound swabs, urine (n=2) (28.6%), and ear swab (n=1) (14.3%). The study revealed that less than 9% of Acinetobacter spp. contained blaNDM encoding genes. Strict antibiotics usage plan and infection control measures are required to prevent the spread of these resistance genes.

In most African countries, street vending of fruits is prevalent and the likelihood of predisposing consumers to microbial contamination is very high. This study aimed to determine various bacteria and risk factors that are associated with fruits sold by street vendors in Accra. Sliced watermelons and pawpaws were randomly purchased from selected suburbs in Greater Accra Region of Ghana. One gram (1 g) of each watermelon and pawpaw was homogenized in 9 ml of sterile peptone water, and 0.1 ml from each serial dilutions of each fruit was spread on plate count agar, blood agar, and MacConkey agar plates for total aerobic counts and coliform counts. Agar plates were incubated at 33–37°C for 18–24 h. Bacterial identification was done by standard bacteriological methods. Additionally, questionnaires were administered to the vendors to gather data on food hygiene and knowledge on foodborne illness. The study revealed that although some of the fruit vendors were educated on food hygiene, most sold fruits were contaminated with mean total aerobic plate counts of 2.6 × 105–8.1 × 105 CFU g−1 and 3.7 × 104–7.1 × 104 CFU g−1 for watermelon and pawpaw. The mean coliform counts for pawpaw and watermelon ranged between 1.2 × 103–8.1 × 103 CFU g−1 and 1.6 × 104–3.1 × 104 CFU g−1, respectively. Overall, mean aerobic counts and mean coliform counts were not significantly different among vendors in selected locations p > 0.05 . However, predominant bacteria isolated included Enterobacter species (33.3%), Citrobacter sp. (20.0%), and Klebsiella sp. (15.9%). The study revealed that watermelon and pawpaw sold on the streets in Accra could be possible source of foodborne illness. Therefore, street food vendors must be educated on food hygiene protocols and measures to improve microbial quality of street vended fruits.

In most African countries, street vending of fruits is prevalent and the likelihood of predisposing consumers to microbial contamination is very high. This study aimed to determine various bacteria and risk factors that are associated with fruits sold by street vendors in Accra. Sliced watermelons and pawpaws were randomly purchased from selected suburbs in Greater Accra Region of Ghana. One gram (1 g) of each watermelon and pawpaw was homogenized in 9 ml of sterile peptone water, and 0.1 ml from each serial dilutions of each fruit was spread on plate count agar, blood agar, and MacConkey agar plates for total aerobic counts and coliform counts. Agar plates were incubated at 33–37°C for 18–24 h. Bacterial identification was done by standard bacteriological methods. Additionally, questionnaires were administered to the vendors to gather data on food hygiene and knowledge on foodborne illness. The study revealed that although some of the fruit vendors were educated on food hygiene, most sold fruits were contaminated with mean total aerobic plate counts of 2.6 × 105–8.1 × 105 CFU g−1 and 3.7 × 104–7.1 × 104 CFU g−1 for watermelon and pawpaw. The mean coliform counts for pawpaw and watermelon ranged between 1.2 × 103–8.1 × 103 CFU g−1 and 1.6 × 104–3.1 × 104 CFU g−1, respectively. Overall, mean aerobic counts and mean coliform counts were not significantly different among vendors in selected locations (p > 0.05). However, predominant bacteria isolated included Enterobacter species (33.3%), Citrobacter sp. (20.0%), and Klebsiella sp. (15.9%). The study revealed that watermelon and pawpaw sold on the streets in Accra could be possible source of foodborne illness. Therefore, street food vendors must be educated on food hygiene protocols and measures to improve microbial quality of street vended fruits.

BackgroundCampylobacter infections in HIV positive patients often present with substantial mortality and morbidity when compared to HIV negative patients.AimThis study assessed the prevalence of Campylobacter, antibiotic resistance phenotypes and genetic factors, and risk of Campylobacter infection associated with living in close proximity to domestic animals in HIV patients with gastric enteritis at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana.MethodsResistance to different antibiotics was assessed with Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. In addition, all the Campylobacter isolates were tested for ampicillin (blaOXA-61), erythromycin (aph-3-1), tetracycline tet(O), streptomycin (aadE), and the energy-dependent multi-drug efflux pump (cmeB) resistance genes using multiplex polymerase chain reaction.ResultsOut of a total of 140 (97 females and 43 males) tested patients, 71 (50.7%) patients were positive for Campylobacter coli. Female patients aged within 31-40 years (31.6%) and 41-50 years (31.6%) had high frequency of Campylobacter infection. Most of the infected patients lived in close proximity to chickens (53.5%), however, some patients (14.1%) lived in close proximity to goats. Phenotypic resistance evaluation revealed widespread resistance to ampicillin (100%), tetracycline (100%), ciprofloxacin (71.8%), erythromycin (69%), and gentamicin (49.3%). However, limited no of isolates contained blaOXA-61 (1.41%), cmeB (7.0%) and tet(O (7.0%) resistance genes.ConclusionHIV patients with gastric enteritis were infected with resistant Campylobacter coli. Further studies are required to examine correlation of infected patients with C. coli and risk of living in close proximity to poultry birds. There is the need for routine investigation of Campylobacter in patients with gastroenteritis in order to assist in the development of strategies for combating diseases involving resistant zoonotic bacteria strains.

Objective This study aimed to determine the prevalence and establish some risk factors associated with the acquisition of gastrointestinal parasitic infections in school children in Accra, Ghana. Results The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was 15%. Giardia lamblia (10%) and Schistosoma mansoni (1.7%) were the common parasites found. Out of the 15% students postive for intestinal parasites, 13.6% had single parasites and 1.3% had double parasitic infections. Children between the ages of 4–5 and 6–7 years (20% each) had the most parasitic infections. The prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was not significantly related to gender (p = 0.1451), and source of drinking water (p = 0.8832). However, a statistically significant association between children infected with parasites and close proximity to domestic animals or pets was observed (p = 0.0284). Continuous education on personal hygiene, environmental sanitation and deworming of domestic animals or pets are required to reduce the prevalence of intestinal parasites in school children in Accra.

Many developing countries, including Ghana, are water stressed. As such, farmers, particularly those in urban areas, have adopted the use of wastewater for irrigation. This study evaluated the bacteriological water quality of the wastewater used for irrigation in the vegetable farms at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), Accra Metropolis, Ghana. In all, 40 wastewater samples were collected and analysed bacteriologically using the total aerobic plate count method. The isolated bacteria were identified biochemically using Bergey’s manual for determinative bacteriology. Mean total bacterial colony count values in the range of 2.75–4.44 × 105 CFU/100 mL were isolated which far exceeds values of 1 × 103/100 mL recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for unrestricted irrigation of crops likely to be eaten raw. Enterobacter cloacae (51.4%), Klebsiella sp. (24.1%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (11.3%), Salmonella typhi (10.6%), Escherichia coli (2.2%) and Proteus sp. (0.4%) were the predominant bacteria isolated. Growers should use treated wastewater for farming while processors and consumers should minimize contamination risks of produce from the vegetable farms/garden to the plate.

Background. Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) has a high water content which predisposes it to spoilage by pathogenic bacteria that can pose significant health threats to consumers. Aim. The study aimed to determine the various pathogenic bacteria associated with tomatoes sold in some central markets in the Accra Metropolis. Method. A total of 120 tomatoes were sampled, out of which 60 fresh, firm, undamaged tomatoes and 60 spoilt tomatoes were analysed. Cut portions of the fresh and spoilt tomatoes were swabbed with sterile swabs and cultured on Blood agar, Nutrient agar, and MacConkey agar. The antibiogram of bacterial isolates was determined by Kirby-Bauer disc-diffusion method. Results. Out of the 120 tomatoes analysed, a total of 66 bacterial isolates were recovered, 68.2% were associated with spoilt tomatoes, and 31.8% were from fresh tomatoes. Klebsiella sp. (34.8%), Enterobacter sp. (24.2%), and Citrobacter sp. (7.6%) were the predominant bacteria isolated. Agbogbloshie market (36.4%) had both fresh (18.2%) and spoilt (18.2%) tomatoes contaminated, whilst Makola market (31.8%) had a higher spoilt (30.3%) tomatoes contaminated. Although none of the isolates expressed resistance to ciprofloxacin, resistance was found for ampicillin (63.1%), tetracycline (60.1%), and cefuroxime (59.1%). Conclusion. Varying levels of antibiotic resistance bacteria amongst tomatoes sold at various markets were found. Contamination might have been caused by poor sanitation, improper handling or transportation from the farms to the markets. The presence of antibiotic resistance bacteria amongst tomatoes raises concern on public health risks associated with the consumption of fresh tomatoes.

Water is essential for life and in most parts of the world including Ghana it is used for various activities such as drinking, bathing and recreational purposes. The objective of this study was to assess the bacteriological quality of swimming pools’ water in the Accra Metropolis. Five swimming pools were selected randomly and a research team visited the pools to collect water samples and at the same time administer short questionnaires about the characteristics of the pools. The average number of swimmers, swimming bathing loads, average age group of pool users, methods of disinfection, type of chlorine used, recycling, and treatment of the water before and after use were investigated. During the visit, water samples were collected for total coliform, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus counts using the Membrane Filtration (MF) method and cultured on chromogenic media. Most (60%) of the selected swimming pools had a bathing load≤20 per day. The operators of the pools disinfect their pools’ water with chorine but majority (60%) of the pool operators chlorinated their pools manually with powdered chlorine. The 20 water samples investigated show that 48% of swimming pools water was contaminated with S. aureus, 30.4% with Ps. aeruginosa, 20.9% with total coli form and 0.7% with E. coli. The E. coli count found in this study was very low indicating that the selected swimming pools were not feacally polluted at the time of sampling. It is recommended that future studies should use large sample sizes.

Cockroaches are common in the environment of many hospitals in Ghana; however, little is known about their public health risks. To evaluate potential risks, we investigated the external and internal microbial flora of 61 cockroaches from a tertiary hospital in Ghana and evaluated the antibiotic resistance profiles of the common bacterial species. Standard methods were used in all the microbiological investigations and antibiotic susceptibility testing. A rotavirus carriage rate of 19.7% was observed among the cockroaches. Four types of intestinal parasites were carried externally by the cockroaches, and the most prevalent was Hookworm (4.9%). Eight nosocomial bacteria were isolated from the cockroaches, and the most prevalent was Klebsiella pneumoniae, which occurred internally in 29.5% of the cockroaches and 26.2% externally. Multiple drug resistance among common bacteria isolated from the cockroaches ranged from 13.8% ( Escherichia coli) to 41.1% ( Klebsiella pneumoniae). Cockroaches constitute an important reservoir for pathogenic microorganisms, and may be important vectors of multiple resistant nosocomial pathogens in the studied hospital.

In Ghana and many developing countries, little is known about food safety in relation to antibiotic residues. The objectives of the study were to (i) determine the prevalence of antibiotic residues in animal source food and estimate the risk to consumers (ii) identify factors predisposing animal source food to contamination with antibiotic drug residues. A total of 634 samples of various animal source foods, including beef, chevon, mutton, pork and egg were screened for drug residues. Additionally, epidemiological data related to antibiotic usage on animals and consumption patterns of animal source food was collected from animal farmers and consumers of animal source food respectively. Overall, the prevalence of drug residues in animal source food was 21.1%, which translates to an average risk of exposure every fifth time animal source food is consumed. The prevalence rates of drug residues in the various animal source foods were; 30.8% (beef); 29.3% (chevon); 28.6% (pork); 24% (mutton); and 6.8% (egg). The trends of consumption of the animal source foods were similar, and majority of the consumers consumed the food every week. Considering the relatively high contamination rates of animal source food as well as their high rates of consumption, it is likely that consumers experience a high risk of exposure to drug residues, especially through beef. Specific causal factors associated with non-adherence of withdrawal requirements of drugs, and therefore contaminations of food were mainly knowledge related factors. This underscores the importance of health education of farmers in dealing with the problem of drug residues contaminating animal source food.