Reliable national data on waste generation and composition that will inform effective planning on waste management in Ghana is absent. To help obtain this data on a regional basis, selected households in each region were recruited to obtain data on rate of waste generation, physical composition of waste, sorting and separation efficiency and per capita of waste. Results show that rate of waste generation in Ghana was 0.47 kg/person/day, which translates into about 12,710 tons of waste per day per the current population of 27,043,093. Nationally, biodegradable waste (organics and papers) was 0.318 kg/person/day and non-biodegradable or recyclables (metals, glass, textiles, leather and rubbers) was 0.096 kg/person/day. Inert and miscellaneous waste was 0.055 kg/person/day. The average household waste generation rate among the metropolitan cities, except Tamale, was high, 0.72 kg/person/day. Metropolises generated higher waste (average 0.63 kg/person/day) than the municipalities (0.40 kg/person/day) and the least in the districts (0.28 kg/person/day) which are less developed. The waste generation rate also varied across geographical locations, the coastal and forest zones generated higher waste than the northern savanna zone. Waste composition was 61% organics, 14% plastics, 6% inert, 5% miscellaneous, 5% paper, 3% metals, 3% glass, 1% leather and rubber, and 1% textiles. However, organics and plastics, the two major fractions of the household waste varied considerably across the geographical areas. In the coastal zone, the organic waste fraction was highest but decreased through the forest zone towards the northern savanna. However, through the same zones towards the north, plastic waste rather increased in percentage fraction. Households did separate their waste effectively averaging 80%. However, in terms of separating into the bin marked biodegradables, 84% effectiveness was obtained whiles 76% effectiveness for sorting into the bin labeled other waste was achieved.

K . O BI R I-DA N SO AN D K. JO N ES . 1999. Two freshwater bathing sites, the Crook O'Lune and the University Boathouse, on the River Lune in the north-west of England, were monitored over a 2 year period for the faecal indicators, faecal coliforms and faecal streptococci, the pathogens, Salmonella and Campylobacter, and compliance with the EU Directive on Bathing Water Quality. Faecal indicator numbers showed no seasonal variation, with numbers in the bathing season similar to those in the non-bathing season. They were consistently above the EU Guideline and Imperative standards so that if the EU Bathing Water Quality Directive (76/160/EEC) were applied, neither site would comply. Faecal indicator numbers in the sediments were an order of magnitude higher than in the overlying water. Campylobacter numbers showed seasonal variation in the water with higher counts in winter than in the summer, although numbers were low. Higher numbers were found in the sediments but there was no seasonal variation. Analysis of various inputs showed that indicators and campylobacters came from a mixture of sources, namely a sewage treatment works, agricultural run-off, streams and mallards. Microbial numbers in the water at the Crook O'Lune, which is closer to the sources of pollution, were twice those at the Boathouse. In the sediments they were six to eight times higher. Faecal coliforms were all identified as Escherichia coli of which 80% were a single biotype. Faecal streptococci were all enterococci of which 55% were E. avium, 38% E. faecalis and 7% E. durans. Salmonella was not isolated from either the water column or the sediments. Campylobacters were mainly Camp. jejuni, followed by Camp. coli, UPTC and Camp. lari.

Aims: To determine whether diurnal and seasonal variations in campylobacters in surface waters result from the effects of temperature and u.v. radiation, and whether natural populations of Campylobacter lari and urease-positive thermophilic campylobacters (UPTC) from birds survive better in surface waters than Camp. jejuni from sewage. Methods and Results: Natural populations of Camp. lari and UPTC in sea water, and Camp. jejuni in river water, were exposed to arti®cial sunlight (equivalent to a sunny day in June). Both populations became non-culturable within 30 min, with T 90 s of 15 min and 25 min, respectively. Cultures of Camp. jejuni became non-culturable within 40 min and those of Camp. coli, Camp. lari and UPTC, within 60 min. In darkness, survival was temperature-dependent. Natural populations took 12 h at 37°C and 5 days at 4°C to become non-culturable in sea water, and slightly less in river water. Cultures of Camp. lari and UPTCs survived for signi®cantly longer than Camp. jejuni and Camp. coli. Loss of culturability for all isolates was most rapid at 37°C and slowest at 4°C. Newly isolated strains from sea water and river water behaved in an almost identical manner to NCTC strains. Conclusions: Campylobacter lari and UPTCs survive for longer in surface waters than Camp. jejuni and Camp. coli, particularly in the dark. Low Campylobacter numbers in coastal waters in the summer, especially in the afternoon, are due to the combined effects of higher temperatures and higher levels of u.v. radiation. Signi®cance and Impact of the Study: Campylobacter lari and UPTCs from birds predominate in bathing waters in Morecambe Bay because they are better able to survive; they also originate from closer to the shore than Camp. jejuni and Camp. coli in sewage ef¯uent, which survive poorly and die before the incoming tide reaches the shore. The predominance of Camp. jejuni in river water results from its dominance of the inputs and not from its ability to survive.

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Poultry are possible sources of non-typhoidal Salmonella serovars which may cause foodborne human disease. We conducted a cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence of Salmonella serovars in egg-laying hens and broilers at the farm level and their susceptibility to antimicrobials commonly used in the poultry industry in Ghana. Sampling of faeces by a sock method (n = 75), dust (n = 75), feed (n = 10) and drinking water (n = 10) was performed at 75 commercial egg-laying and broiler farms in two regions of Ghana and skin neck (n = 30) at a local slaughterhouse from broilers representing different flocks. Salmonella was detected in 94/200 (47%) samples with an overall flock prevalence of 44·0%. Sixteen different serovars were identified with S. Kentucky (18·1%), S. Nima (12·8%), S. Muenster (10·6%), S. Enteritidis (10·6%) and S. Virchow (9·6 %) the most prevalent types. The predominant phage type of S. Enteritidis was PT1. All strains were susceptible to cefotaxime, ceftazidime and cefoxitin. Fifty-seven (60·6%) strains were resistant to one or more of the remaining nine antimicrobials tested by disk diffusion, of which 23 (40·4%) showed multi-resistance (resistance to ⩾3 classes of antimicrobials). Of the resistant strains (n = 57), the most significant were to nalidixic acid (89·5%), tetracycline (80·7%), ciprofloxacin (64·9%), sulfamethazole (42·1%), trimethoprim (29·8%) and ampicillin (26·3%). All S. Kentucky strains were resistant to more than two antimicrobials and shared common resistance to nalidixic acid or ciprofloxacin and tetracycline, often in combinations with other antimicrobials. PFGE analysis using XbaI of S. Kentucky demonstrated one dominant clone in the country. In conclusion, poultry produced in Ghana has a high prevalence of multi-resistant Salmonella and the common finding of clonal S. Kentucky in the Kumasi area warrants further investigations into the epidemiology of this serovar. There is an urgent need for surveillance and control programmes on Salmonella and use of antimicrobials in the Ghanaian poultry industry to protect the health of consumers.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the microbiological quality of Ghanaian bottled and plastic-bagged drinking water sold on the streets of Metropolitan Kumasi, Ghana. Methods and Results: Eight bottled, 88 factory-filled plastic sachet and 40 hand-filled hand-tied polythenebagged drinking waters were examined for the presence of heterotrophic bacteria total viable counts (TVCs), indicators of faecal contamination (total coliforms, faecal coliforms and enterococci) and for lead, manganese and iron. Heterotrophic bacteria were found in all three types of water with TVCs per millilitre ranging from 1 to 460 for bottled water, 2-6AE33 · 10 5 for factory-bagged sachet water and 2AE33 · 10 3 -7AE33 · 10 12 for hand-filled hand-tied bagged water. None of the microbial indicators of faecal contamination were detected in bottled water, whereas 4AE5% of the factory-bagged sachets contained total coliforms and 2AE3% faecal coliforms, and 42AE5% of the handfilled hand-tied bags contained total coliforms, 22AE5% faecal coliforms and 5% enterococci. Iron was found in all three types of drinking water but at concentrations well within the WHO recommendations. Lead and manganese were not detected. Conclusion: Ghanaian bottled water is of good microbiological quality but some factory-bagged sachet and handfilled hand-tied polythene-bagged drinking water are of doubtful quality. Significance and Impact of the Study: Factory-bagged sachets and hand-filled hand-tied bags of drinking water sold in Ghana should be monitored for microbiological contamination, with the aim of raising standards in the industry and re-assuring the public.

Campylobacter is a leading causal agent of bacterial enteritis worldwide, but its prevalence is not well documented in Ghanaian hospitals. This study isolated Campylobacter species from patients with enteritis or urinary tract infections attending Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and assessed the antibiogram profile of isolated species. Two hundred and two (202) in-patients and outpatients samples of all age groups diagnosed with enteritis or UTI infections were analyzed from May 2013 to August 2013. Campylobacter species were detected using selective agar (mCCDA) and confirmed on API Campy system (bioMérieux, France), with disk diffusion method determined the resistance profile of the species. Of the 128 enteritis and 74 UTI patients samples analyzed, 26 and 9 isolates were respectively confirmed as Campylobacter spp. giving a prevalence of 17.3% (35/202). Species identified were C. jejuni (40%), C. jejuni sub sp. doylei (2.8%), C. coli (37%) and C. lari (20%). Resistance was 92.3% -100% each to erythromycin and the β-lactams, 61.5% -86.7% to trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole, 92.3% -93.3% to tetracycline, 46.2% -80% to chloramphenicol, 0% -60% to aminoglycosides and 0% to imipenem. Multidrug resistance of 97.1% was detected among species. Empirical treatment of Campylobacter enteritis with erythromycin and other common and cheap drugs may result in treatment failure in the face of high level resistance observed among the Campylobacter species.

Until recently, sewage from Morecambe was macerated, but otherwise untreated, and discharged at high water via a short outfall pipe into Morecambe Bay adjacent to a recognized bathing water. In March 1997, a new biological sewage treatment plant came on‐line and the effluent was discharged via a longer outfall pipe into the Bay south of Heysham. The effect of the new sewage treatment on the quality of the bathing waters was monitored by testing sea water collected from the three EU designated bathing waters on Morecambe Bay: Morecambe North, Morecambe South and Heysham. After sewage treatment came on‐line, the numbers of faecal coliforms and faecal streptococci were lower at Morecambe North and Morecambe South but higher at Heysham. Although the changes in numbers were not always statistically significant, they were sufficient to affect compliance with the EU Bathing Water Directive Imperative (mandatory) standards. Compliance improved markedly at Morecambe North and South but declined at Heysham, the closest bathing site to the new outfall. Numbers of thermophilic campylobacters were similar in both years, which is suggestive of their sources being different from those of the indicator bacteria. Campylobacter lari and urease‐positive thermophilic campylobacters (UPTC) were the only species of Campylobacter isolated from Morecambe's bathing waters. Very low numbers of Salmonella were found, with Salm. arizonae the only species isolated.