ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Antibiogram and molecular epidemiology of selected pathogenic bacteria isolated from Circulating Ghanaian currency notes in Kumasi.

Dynamics of transfer of pathogenic microbes by hands and fomites have been explored to a lesser extent in long-term care in Ghana. Antimicrobial resistance has become an important public health problem associated with serious consequences for the treatment of infections. Community-Acquired infections (CAI) on the other hand constitute significant cause of morbidity and mortality of pathogenic infections in Ghana and are significantly spread by fomites. In a diagnostic research to ascertain the possible frequency of transmission of Resistant pathogens from circulating currency notes in the Kumasi metropolis, 120 banknotes from 10 groups were obtained by stratified random sampling and treated in the laboratory using standard bacteriological technique. Their total coliform counts were determined. Staphylococci strains (n = 62) and a total of 28 Enterobacteria (Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp) were selectively isolated, biochemically identified and their antibiogram determined (including cefoxitin, cefotaxime and cefpodoxime). Resistant strains were molecularly characterized by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). MecA, SpA, MecC, and P-VL genes were determined to identify Staphylococcus aureus with methicillin resistance gene (MRSA) and blaCTX-M, blaTEM, and blaSHV genes to determine E. coli and K. pneumoniae of ESBL resistance. Six (66.7%) S. aureus carried MRSA genes, five (31.2%) Enterobacteria carried CTX-M genes and two (12.5%) TEM genes were identified in all. Multiple comparison of coliform counts for currency denominations indicated high contamination among lower denominations (P values < 0.005). There were no amplicon bands identified for the presence of SHV genes. Other pathogen species also identified were methicillin resistant which did not possess SpA gene (Staphylococcal protein gene A). An average of 11.8% (n=17) isolates tested were resistant to more than three classes of antibiotics indicating multidrug resistance and showing multiple bands for PCR. In conclusion, banknotes represent risks and public health hazards to the community and individuals handling them. Circulating Ghanaian currency notes create a significant surface area and appropriate conditions for horizontal gene transfer of resistant plasmids among pathogens of different species.

Source: KNUST
Antibacterial Activities of some Ghanaian Medicinal Plants against Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Methicillin Sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA)

Plants are noted to have nutritional properties as well as a reservoir for potential drug production and have been part of phytomedicine for many years. Several reports on the antimicrobial activity of different herbs have been documented. Synthetic antibiotics have been the main therapy for resistant bacterial infections; however, the misuse and overuse of antibiotics have become the main factor for the emergence of drug resistant strains of several groups of microorganisms, hence the need to investigate the antimicrobial properties of medicinal plants. The antibacterial activities of the selected plant leaf extracts of various concentrations (100, 150, 200 mg/ml) were tested against clinical isolates of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Methicillin Sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) as well as seven standard strains of bacteria (K. pneumoniae ATCC 33495, Proteus mirabilis ATCC 49565, S. saprophyticus ATCC 15305, Salmonella typhi ATCC 19430, S. aureus ATCC 25923, E. coli ATTC 25922 and P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853) using modified agar diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) methods. Phytochemical analyses identified compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, phenols, cardiac glycosides, and terpenoids. Alchornea cordifolia gave the highest inhibitory effect (P < 0.0011) followed by Psidium guajava (P < 0.0142) against MRSA whilst the rest of the plants showed no inhibitory effect. Psidium guajava, Alchornea cordifolia, Phyllanthus fraternus, Cnestis ferruginea and Hoslundia opposita had significant effect on the MSSA and the standard bacterial strains (P < 0.05). Both leaf extracts of Alchornea cordifolia and Psidium guajava were highly effective against the MRSA strains with MIC value of 0.195 mg/ml. Generally, the ethanol extracts of the plants had higher antibacterial activity than aqueous extracts. All the standard bacteria strains were susceptible to the selected medicinal plants with the exception of K. pneumoniae which was not susceptible even to Alchornea cordifolia and Psidium guajava. Amongst the seven different plants, Alchornea cordifolia and Psidium guajava inhibited the growth of resistant isolates of MRSA, and therefore, can be good sources of antimicrobial production which could significantly inhibit the growth of resistant bacteria such as the MRSA.

Source: KNUST
Antibiotic Resistance Patterns of Strains of Salmonella Typhi and Staphylococcus Aureus Isolated from Patients in three Hospitals in Kumasi, Ghana

In Ghana, S. aureus and S. typhi are common causes of human infections and are also recognized as pathogens of high public significance. Despite these evidences, isolation of bacteria and testing of their sensitivities to antibiotics are hardly practiced in our hospitals. As a result, there is very little information on the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of S. typhi and S. aureus. This study therefore sought to determine the occurrence and extent of resistance of S. typhi and S. aureus isolated from patients in three hospitals namely Kumasi South, North Suntreso and Tafo hospitals to antibiotics. A total of 1200 samples obtained from patients suspected to have bacterial infections were analyzed for the presence of S. aureus and S. typhi. Out of this number, 128 samples had S. typhi and 109 had S. aureus. The isolates were then subjected to antibiotic sensitivity testing using a modified Kirby-Bauer method. The study revealed that infection of S. typhi and S. aureus did not differ statistically between the sexes. S. typhi isolates were evenly distributed among the various age groups, but there were significant differences among the various age groups in relation to S. aureus isolates. The most susceptible age group to S. aureus was the 20-29 years age group. The variation in the S. typhi and S. aureus among the clinical samples from the three hospitals was not statistically significant. The antibiotic susceptibility patterns of S. typhi revealed that 52.8% of the isolates were resistant to Ampicillin. The resistance levels of S. typhi to other antibiotics were low with 17.2% being resistant to ciprofloxacin, 32.8% to co-trimoxazole, 14.8% to ceftriaxone and 25.0% to chloramphenicol. The intermediate resistance levels of the S. typhi isolates to these five antibiotics were very low with 6.3% exhibiting intermediate resistance to ciprofloxacin and co-trimoxazole, 12.5% to ampicillin, 14.8% to ceftriaxone and 16.4% to chloramphenicol. S. aureus also showed a resistance of xiii 42.6% to gentamicin, 40.7% to ampicillin, 49.1% to erythromycin, 43.5% to ceftriaxone and 20.4% to vancomycin. The numbers of intermediate resistant S. aureus to the antibiotics were few except for ceftriaxone which recorded a value of 39.8%. The percentage of multiple-drug resistance among the S. typhi and S. aureus isolates were 19.5% and 32.1% respectively. The usefulness of these antibiotics will therefore depend on the effective interventions put in place by health authorities to curb the spread of resistance among bacterial strains to antibiotics

Source: KNUST
Antibiotics in Ghanaian environment: occurrence, uptake, model and risk assessment of vegetables irrigated with low quality water

Hospital wastewater and effluents from waste stabilization ponds in Kumasi, Ghana, are directly discharged as low quality water into nearby streams which are eventually used to irrigate vegetables. The presence of 12 commonly used antibiotics in Ghana (metronidazole, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, trimethoprim, ampicillin, cefuroxime, sulfamethoxazole, amoxicillin, tetracycline, oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline and doxycycline) were investigated in the water samples. Greenhouse uptake studies of tetracycline and amoxicillin antibiotics by lettuce and carrot plants were performed and then used for modelling uptake of antibiotics using STELLA® software. Finally, the occurrence of these 12 antibiotics in lettuces irrigated with low quality water in Kumasi Ghana were investigated. Antibiotics in the water samples were extracted using solid phase extraction, the plants samples were extracted using accelerated solvent extraction followed by clean up on SPE. All samples were analyzed on HPLC-MS/MS. The total load of antibiotics discharged through the WSP effluents and hospital wastewater was up to 3.1 g/day. Low quality water used for vegetable irrigation considered for this study had antibiotics concentrations up to 0.2 ppb. Interestingly, the concentrations of antibiotics in irrigation water were not significantly different from that of the stream samples (p = 0.03). The concentrations of antibiotics determined in lettuce collected from vegetable farms and markets in Kumasi, Ghana ranged from 13.5 to 104.3 ng/kg. Seven out of 12 antibiotics investigated were detected in at least one sample. Estimated daily intakes of erythromycin and sulfamethoxazole for the consumption of lettuce were 6.4 x 10-7 and 2.0 x 10-7 μg/kg body weight/d respectively. These estimated daily intakes are several times lower than acceptable daily intakes of 0.5 and 50 μg/kg body weight/d respectively, implying no toxic effect to human consumption. The outcomes of this study suggest there could be indirect exposure of humans to antibiotics through vegetable consumption and drinking water in Ghana. Although the levels found in lettuce plant could not cause toxic effect to human’s further research needs to be v investigated since low levels of antibiotics in food and low quality water could contribute to development of bacterial resistance.

Source: KNUST
Antifungal Susceptibility of Candida Species and Cryptococcus Neoformans Isolated from Patients at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi

Antifungal drugs are prescribed for the treatment of yeast infections at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital yet the susceptibility profiles of the infecting yeasts are unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the common species of yeasts that cause infection among patients attending the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, Ghana and to determine their susceptibility profiles to antifungal agents. A total of 528 clinical samples were collected between March and June 2009 and analyzed. Samples collected from individuals consisted of 186 (35%) high vaginal swabs, 109 (21%) cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples, 127 (24%) urine samples and 106 (20%) sputum samples. The samples were cultured on sabouraud dextrose agar. Identification of the yeasts was performed using growth characteristics, the germ tube test and the API ID 32 C test kits. Antifungal susceptibility of yeast isolates to antifungal agents was done using ATB™ FUNGUS 3 test kits and the agar disc diffusion method. Sixty- seven (67) out of the 528 samples yielded yeasts giving yeast prevalence of 12.7%. Thirty- three (49.3%) of the isolates were Candida albicans, 12(17.9%) were Candida glabrata, 8(11.9%) Candida tropicalis, 4(6%) Candida dubliniensis, 3(4.5%) Candida krusei, 2(3%) Candida sake, 1(1.5%) Candida guilliermondii, 1(1.5%) Candida parapsilosis and 3(4.5%) Cryptococcus neoformans. All isolates of Candida dubliniensis, Candida sake, Candida parapsilosis, Candida guilliermondii and Cryptococcus neoformans were susceptible to flucytosine, amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 0.125 to 8mg/l. All isolates of Candida krusei were resistant to fluconazole with MICs of ≥ 64mg/l. Seventy- nine (79) to 85 % of isolates of C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis and C. krusei were susceptible to flucytosine, amphotericin B, and itraconazole with MICs ranging from 0.125 to 8mg/l. Voriconazole exhibited greatest activity against isolates of C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis and C. krusei with no resistant strains identified. Voriconazole appeared to be the most effective antifungal against all the yeast isolates tested.

Source: KNUST
Antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of the crude peptide extracts of Galatea paradoxa and Patella rustica

This study evaluated the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of crude peptide extracted from Galatea paradoxa (G.paradoxa) and Patella rustica (P. rustica). The extracts were tested against eight strains of bacteria (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella typhi, Enterococcus feacalis, Klebseilla pneumoniae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and one strain of fungi (Candida albicans) using agar well diffusion and broth dilution assays. The extracts from G. paradoxa demonstrated a high degree of activity against the bacteria strains but were inactive towards the fungus. P. rustica, however, showed a markedly higher antifungal activity but little antibacterial effect. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the extracts determined by the broth tube dilution assay were 17 mg/mL of G. paradoxa against the entire spectrum of microorganisms tested except for C. albicans which was 20 mg/mL. The MIC of the extracts of P. rustica was 13 mg/mL against all the strains of microorganisms tested except for E. feacalis (17 mg/mL), K. pneumoniae (17 mg/mL) and C. albicans (13 mg/mL). Antioxidant activity using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay showed scavenging ability on the DPPH radical was 56.77 % at 0.39 mg/ mL for G. paradoxa and 79.77 % at 0.39 mg/mL for P. rustica. The study indicates that the crude peptide extracts from the two molluscs have promising antimicrobial and antioxidant activities that can be harnessed as leads for potential bioactive compounds

Source: KNUST
Antimicrobial Activity Profile of the Constituents of Four Ghanaian Aromatic Medicinal Plants

The study was conducted to investigate the antimicrobial activities of four Ghanaian aromatic medicinal plants and their respective major antimicrobial constituents. The petroleum ether (40 -60oC), ethanol, aqueous extracts and as well as the essential oils from the leaves of four Ghanaian aromatic medicinal plants [Cinnamomum zeylanicum Nees.(Cinnamon), Psidium guajava Linn.(Guava), Ocimum gratissimum Linn.(Ocimum), Xylopia aethiopica A. Rich (Xylopia)] were tested using the Agar Diffusion method for their antimicrobial activity against two gram positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococus aureus), two gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and one fungus (Candida albicans). The ethanolic extracts of the four (4) samples were fractionated according to Mistscher‟s scheme of fractionation and the resulting fractions were also tested against the five microorganisms by the Agar diffusion test. All the petroleum ether extracts were active against all the microorganisms except Xylopia aethiopica which showed activity against P.aerugionsa and C. albicans only. The petroleum ether extract of Ocimum gratissimum leaves showed the highest zones of inhibition against all five test organisms followed by Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Psidium guajava and Xylopia aethiopica. The ethanolic extracts of the four samples showed zones of inhibition poorly compared to those of the petroleum extract except for Psidium guajava. The ethanolic extract of Psidium guajava inhibited strongly the growth of all test organisms compared to its corresponding petroleum ether extract. The aqueous extract of Psidium guajava was the only aqueous extract which showed activity against the microorganisms. The ethanolic extract of Cinnamomum zeylanicum was active against E. coli and C. albicans. However, the ethanolic extracts of Ocimum gratissimum and Xylopia aethiopica were not active at all against the test organisms. The essential oil from Ocimum gratissimum was the most active of the four (4) essential oils followed by Psidium guajava, Cinnamomum zeylanicum and lastly Xylopia aethiopica essential oils. The Ocimum gratissimum essential oil had minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) range of 1.0 x 10-5 % to 0.158%, Psidium guajava had 3.98 x 10-3 to 0.251%, Cinnamomum zeylanicum had 6.31x10-2 to 0.251% whiles Xylopia aethiopica oil had 3.98x10-2 to 1.26%. All the acidic or phenolic fractions (components or constituents) except Xylopia aethiopica were active against the test organisms. The terpenoidal, waxes and alkaloidal fractions or components showed various levels of activity against the test microorganisms. It was only the water soluble quaternary alkaloidal fractions which could not reveal any significant activity against the test microorganisms.

Source: KNUST
The antimicrobial activity of extracts of the stem bark of Alstonia Boonei De Wild

The antimicrobial activity of the alkaloidal extract of the stem bark of Aistonia boonei De Wild family Apocynaceae (Synonymous: Alstonia congensis Cher & Anbrev), a Ghanaian medicinal plant used in local folklore medicine has been studied. Both in vitro and in vivo activity studies have been carried out. Preliminary TLC analysis of the less basic fraction (Solution A) gave three spots X, Y, Z, using the solvent system:- chloroform: methanol (9:1). TLC analysis of the strongly basic fraction of the extracts (Solution B) yielded four spots, A’, B’, C’ and D’. The solvent system used for TLC analysis was chloroform: acetone: methanol (11:8:1). Spot D’ on a chloroform: acetone (5:4) solvent system gave two further spots E’ and F’. In vitro and in vivo antimicrobial studies were carried out using the Solutions A and B. Weight by weight, Solution B showed more antimicrobial activity than Solution A. There was in vitro inhibition of growth by both Solution A and Solution B in Streptococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis which were used as test micro organisms. The in vivo study of the extracts from the stem back of Alstonia boonei was performed in both rats and day old chicks infected (by inoculation) with a hospital strain of Staphylococcus aureus H512. All the spots obtained by TLC had antimicrobial activity but spectrum of activity was different. Spots A’, B’, E’ and F’ of solution ‘B’ were effective against all the test micro—organisms. Spots C’ was effective against all the test micro—organisms except Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi. Spot Y was effective against all the test micro-organisms while Spot X was effective against all the test micro-organisms except Bacillus subtilis. Spot Z however, was effective against only Salmonella typhi. The Solution ‘B” extract was more effective in the elimination of staphylococcus aureus than the Solution ‘A’ in both rats and chicks.

Source: KNUST
The Antimicrobial Activities of the Stem Extract of Strophanthus Gratus, Apocynaceae

The ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the stem of Strophanthus gratus from the Botanical Gardens, KNUST, were tested for in vitro antimicrobial activities. Traditional herbal practitioners use the decoctions of the stem of this plant to treat gonorrhoea and syphilis. Phytochemical tests on the extracts showed that they contained saponins, flavonoids, steroids, alkaloids, anthraquinone glycosides, cyanogenetic glycosides, cardiac glycosides and tannins. Test organisms used included E. faecalis, Pr. vulgaris, Staph aureus, B. subtilis, B. thuringiensis, S. typhi, Ps aeruginosa and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The results showed that both the ethanolic and aqueous extracts were active against the test organisms. However, the ethanolic extract recorded lower Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations against the organisms when compared with the aqueous extract. When the activities of the extracts were compared with those of ciprofloxacin under the same experimental conditions, it was realized that the extracts were more active than ciprofloxacin against the test organisms with the exceptions of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, S. typhi and E. coli. Auxiliary tests on the ethanolic extract of the plant showed that the plant has some antioxidant activity in addition to its antimicrobial activity.

Source: KNUST
Antimicrobial and wound healing activities of Clerodendron Splendens G. Don

Clerodendron splendens G. Don (Fam. Verbanaceae) is a well known plant in Ghanaian folklore medicine for treating various skin infections and in wound healing. Based on its traditional use, this plant was evaluated for its antimicrobial, wound healing and antioxidant properties. Juice expressed from the fresh leaves and ethanol, acetone and chloroform extracts of the dried leaves, stem and root, all exhibited various degrees of antimicrobial activity against the test microorganisms: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (NCIMB1042), Escherichia coli (NCTC9002), Staphylococcus aureus(NCTC4163), Bacillus subtilis (NCTC10073), Proteus mirabilis (NCTC13376), Klebsiella pneumonia (NCTC5055) and Candida albicans (NCTC3255), with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.15 to 7mg/ml. The time-kill kinetics studies conducted suggested microbistatic activity of the various extracts against these test microorganisms employed. The extracts (fresh juice, 3, 30, 300 and 1000 mg/ml) were topically applied twelve hourly to excision wounds created on the back of Sprague Dawley rats in groups of seven. Two more groups serving as the controls were also treated with 1%w/w Silver sulphurdiazine cream and the vehicle (normal saline + tween80). The extracts showed faster rate of wound contraction in the first 5 days than the controls. Higher breaking strengths were recorded, especially in the 300mg/ml treated group, suggesting the possibility of higher collagen content of the repaired tissues than in the control groups. C. splendens also exhibited antioxidant activity in the DPPH (1-diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging assay with IC50 value of 5.61± 0.04 mg/ml. Thus this study provides a scientific rationale for the traditional use of this plant in the management of wounds and other infectious conditions.

Source: KNUST
Antimicrobial properties of metal piperidine dithiocarbamate complexes against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans

In this study, a series of metal piperidine dithiocarbamate complexes (M = Zn, Cu, Co, Fe, Ni, Bi and Ag) were synthesized and characterized using microelemental, 1 HNMR, mass spectrometry and FT-IR analyses. Antimicrobial properties of the complexes were tested against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans in a 96-well plate, using the broth dilution assay. The antimicrobial activity of the complexes was in the order Zn > Co > Cu > Ag = Bi = Ni > Fe against Staphylococcus aureus and Co > Zn > Fe > Ag = Bi = Cu = Ni against Candida albicans. The results indicate that the complexes were effective against the microorganisms at high concentrations.

Source: KNUST
Antimicrobial, Antibiotic Modulation and Wound Healing Activities of Entandrophragma Angolense

Entandrophragma angolense (Welw.) C.DC. (Meliaceae)is a deciduous plant commonly found on the West African Coast. This study was undertaken to evaluate the antimicrobial, antioxidant and wound healing activities of methanol stem bark extract of E. angolense. Phytochemical screening for secondary metabolites was carried out on the crude extract of the plant...

Source: KNUST