Enterobacteriaceae; The study was conducting to investigate the level of contamination of raw meat; and Ghanaian coins in circulation at Cape Coast Metropolis. But in all, 10 raw meat were sample each from chevron and beef from Kotokuraba market; and 400 Ghanaian coin currencies retrieved from food vendors, students; transport operators and banks were used in this study.
Passing on dangerous naked explosives: the state of multiple antibiotic resistant Enterobacteriaceae in Cape Coast, Ghana. But the dynamisms involved in bacterial drug resistance; emergence and spread of multiple antibiotic resistant Enterobacteriaceae; in Ghana are poorly understanding. But the current state of antibiotic resistance is gradually becoming alarming. To make matters worse, the factors that drive the transmission of antibiotic resistance; among organisms in Ghana are still poorly understood.
The isolation of multi-antibiotic resistant Enterobacteriaceae to ß-lactams; the first, second and third generation cephalosporins from circulating coin currencies and meat sources in Cape Coast; Ghana, is a major concern as it poses a serious threat to the entire healthcare system.
Enterobacteriaceae in Ghana
E. coli, Enterobacter spp, Shigella spp, Klebsiellaspp, Pseudomonas spp; and Proteus spp showed resistance to second and third generation cephalosporins; an effective antibiotic against Enterobacteriaceae species. But there is a possibility that this extended-spectrum ß-lactamase; (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae in circulation will spread rapidly with limited timely treatment to curb the infections.
These microbes cause a range of infections including acute diarrhoea, respiratory infection, urinary tract infections (UTI); but bacteremia, sepsis, pneumonia, cystitis, pyelonephritis, and lung abscess. The easy spread of this multi-antibiotic resistant Enterobacteriaceae; but through contact with contaminated surfaces and by person-to-person contact makes it major public health concern; as it has a high implication on the health facilities of the region which have limited resources.
The isolation of MDR Enterobacteriaceae from circulating coin currencies and meat sources; gives an indication of an individual’s multiple points of contact with these pathogens during daily routines; risk of infection and possible transmission to another person.
Antibiotic susceptibility
The impending danger of possible outbreak of multiple ESBL-E resistant strains; but requires immediate public health measures to circumvent an epidemic outbreak in Ghana. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of ESBL-E transmission; but would be essential in providing permanent control measures to deal with drug resistance in Ghana. Personal hygiene and proper handling of currencies are encouraged to mitigate the spread of drug-resistant pathogens.
But the multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolates from circulating Ghanaian coins; and raw meats in the Cape Coast metropolis is an indication of an impending danger; but which requires immediate attention to prevent a possible outbreak and spread from the society to the hospital setting.