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The emergence and spread of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) pose significant challenges to the treatment and control of urinary tract infections, particularly among vulnerable populations, such as the elderly living in nursing care homes. In this study, we investigated the occurrence of ESBL genes in commensal E. coli isolated from urine samples of 118 elderly individuals residing in Ghanaian nursing care homes. A total of 195 ESBL genes were detected among 41 E. coli isolated from the study participants. All the isolates harboured at least one ESBL gene, and the majority of them (70.1%) carried at least four ESBL genes. Among the ESBL genes detected, CTXM825 was the predominant (14.1%). In antimicrobial susceptibility testing, 65.9% of the isolates showed resistance to cefepime, a fourth-generation cephalosporin, while 56.1% showed resistance to cefotaxime, a third-generation cephalosporin. Additionally, 46.3% of the isolates were multidrug-resistant, indicating resistance to antibiotics from multiple classes. In summary, we observed relatively high rates of resistance to antibiotics as well as alarming rates of ESBL genes in the isolated pathogens. These findings emphasise the urgent need for antimicrobial stewardship and infection control programmes to mitigate the spread of multidrug-resistant pathogens in nursing care homes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The article discusses how machine learning platforms can provide conflicting information compared to dairy scientists and feed firm websites regarding the performance of dairy cattle when fed seaweed supplements. The study compares responses from three ML platforms to survey results from dairy scientists and claims made by feed companies. Findings suggest that while ML can be a useful resource, it should not be the sole source of information, and multiple sources should be consulted to ensure reliability. The study highlights discrepancies between ML responses, scientific support, and commercial claims, emphasizing the importance of triangulating information from various sources. [Extracted from the article] more...