Aims: This study aimed at establishing the prevalence of some viral Transfusion Transmissible Infectious (TTI) agents among blood donors in the Kintampo North municipality of Ghana. Study Design: A retrospective cross-sectional hospital based study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Laboratory unit of the Kintampo Municipal Hospital between May and August, 2013. Methodology: Archived results (from January 2010 to December 2012) on blood donation from the hospital's laboratory were reviewed manually. Data comprising age, sex and results on HBsAg, anti-HCV and anti-HIV tests of blood donors were reviewed. The data were analyzed using Microsoft excel 2007 statistical package. Results: A total of 3402 people were screened for blood donation. Out of this number 3139 (92.3%) were males while 263 (7.7%) were females. The combined sero-prevalence

Introduction: Spontaneous vaginal delivery is the commonest mode of delivery globally, particularly in remote areas of resource constrained countries where modern healthcare is limited. This study sought to establish among antennal and postnatal attendees, women's preferences regarding modes of delivery and the factors influencing their choices of delivery.

The presence of antimicrobial resistant foodborne bacteria is a major food safety challenge for food that is consumed raw. Abuse and overuse of antibiotics in the agriculture sector has been identified as a contributory factor to the rising threat of antibiotic resistance. In many developing countries where milk is marketed and consumed raw through informal channels, the occurrence of bacterial contamination is high and poses a major public health risk. This situation is exacerbated when caused by antimicrobial resistant bacteria. Hence this study was conducted to determine the antimicrobial resistant pattern of bacteria in raw cow milk and milk products retailed in the Northern Region of Ghana. Antibiotic resistance profiles were established for 150 bacteria isolates (Escherichia coli, E. coli O157:H7, Klebsiella pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella spp. Shigella spp. and Proteus spp.) obtained from the culture of raw milk (n=210) and milk products (n=60) retailed within the Northern region of Ghana. Susceptibility to nine antimicrobials commonly used in veterinary and human medical practice was performed on all the isolates using the agar disc diffusion method according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Isolates showed highest resistance to Nalidixic acid followed by Chloramphenicol, Gentamicin, Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and Ceftriaxone but were most susceptible to Ciprofloxacin and Ampicillin. About 25 – 47.6 % of Staphylococcus aureus showed resistance to Cefoxitin. Milk and milk products sold in the northern region of Ghana are contaminated with bacterial pathogens with high levels of antimicrobial resistance. A one health approach is required to curtail the threat of antibacterial resistant bacteria in the food chain.

To determine the prevalence, etiology and antibiotic susceptibility profile of bacterial agents of wound infection in rural community dwellers in the Northern region of Ghana. From August 2017 to July 2018, patients who reported with infected wound to four (4) primary health facilities were recruited after obtaining written informed consent. Wound swabs were taken from 93 participants; 59(63.4%) males and 34(36.6%) females. Wounds were aseptically swabbed and cultured. Antibiotic susceptibility tests (AST) were performed on all isolates using agar disc diffusion method according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute CLSI 2013 guidelines. A total of 165 bacteria isolates were obtained from 93 wound swabs. The most predominant bacteria species were Staphylococcus aureus 38(23.0%) followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa 27(19.7%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae 15(9.1%). Many of the isolates were from burns 61(37.0%) and diabetic wounds 33 (20.0%), with few from motor traffic wounds 5(3.0%). Most of the isolates were resistant to third generation cephalosporins. Notably, all (100%) of the Acinetobacter and Providencia species and 75% of Proteus species were resistant to ceftazidime and ceftriaxone. High resistance to ceftazidime and ceftriaxone was also observed in K. pneumoniae (53.3% and 53.3%) and E. coli (60.0% and 50.0%) respectively. Resistance in Streptococcus pyogenes to penicillin and erythromycin was 60% and 70% respectively while 10.5 % of the Staphylococcus aureus isolates were methicillin resistant (MSRA). This study revealed a wide range of bacterial agents are associated with wound infection and are resistant to commonly used antibiotics. Additionally, the study suggests relatively high antibiotic resistance is associated with community acquired infection of wounds.

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Purpose: To assess the safety of retailed poultry using the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli ( E. coli), a dominant intestinal microflora. Methods: Two medium-scale farms and 8 well-known retail outlets within the La-Nkwantanang Madina municipality in Accra were purposively selected for sampling from January to March 2020. We randomly sampled raw chicken (n = 25) and poultry fecal matter (n = 50). All samples were immediately transported on ice to the laboratory for analysis within 12 hours after collection. Conventional culture techniques, biochemical tests, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) were used for isolation and identification. The antimicrobial susceptibility of isolated E. coli strains (n = 36) was tested using the Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method. Results: Antimicrobial resistance in E. coli ranged from 10.7 % (cefotaxime) to 82.1% (tetracycline) in fecal matter and 0% (gentamicin & cefotaxime) to 62.5% (tetracycline) in chicken. The prevalence of antimicrobial resistant E. coli in fecal samples was higher than in chicken for almost all antibiotics tested, except for cefoxitin, cefuroxime, and ceftazidime. Multidrug resistance was 57.1% in E. coli from fecal samples compared to 62.5% in chicken. Conclusion: The high level of resistance to E. coli in fecal matter is of public health concern because cross-contamination often occurs during slaughter and processing. This calls for close surveillance and strict adherence to Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles in the chicken production chain to prevent the transmission of antimicrobial-resistant E. coli strains through the food chain.

Background Neonatal intensive care units (NICU) are specialized units that provide medical attention to neonates, and thus have become a vital aspect in the provision of critical care to infants who are faced with special challenges following birth. Aim To determine antepartum and intrapartum factors that predispose to NICU admissions in the Nandom Municipal of the Upper West Region of Ghana. Method This was a cross‐sectional retrospective study, spanning from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Records covering 1777 women who were delivered or had their babies referred to the St. Theresa's Hospital in the Nandom Municipality were involved in the study. Descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression analysis were used to compare variables, and statistical significance was determined where the p‐value was less than 0.05. Results From the study, the rate of NICU admission was 10.4%. There was a significant association between mothers who attended less than four antenatal sessions ( p = 0.004) and admission to NICU. Nulliparous mothers ( p = 0.027) and mothers who presented with multiple pregnancy ( p < 0.001) were more likely to have their babies sent to NICU. Both preterm delivery ( p < 0.001) and post‐term delivery ( p < 0.001) were prone to admission to NICU. Also, instrumental delivery ( p < 0.001), cesarean section ( p < 0.001), low birth weight ( p < 0.001), and male infants ( p = 0.003) had an increased risk of being admitted to NICU. Furthermore, severe ( p < 0.001) and moderate ( p < 0.001) birth asphyxia in the first minute following delivery were significantly associated with NICU admission whereas severely asphyxiated babies at 5 min ( p < 0.001) were associated with NICU admission. Conclusion The study revealed a relatively high NICU admission rate in the study area, and the predictors are multifaceted. Tailored intervention programs aimed at curbing these predictors will be required to reduce the rate of NICU admissions in the Nandom Municipality of Ghana.