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🇬🇭 Ghana /Health & Science

Study finds high antibiotic resistance among elderly residents of Accra care homes

From Ghanaian Times · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Researchers found E. coli in 41 of 118 urine samples from elderly residents at selected care homes in Accra.
  • The bacteria showed high resistance to several antibiotics, while some residents also had Candida infections with resistance to fluconazole.
  • Researchers called for regular screening, improved hygiene and more responsible antibiotic use in care homes.

A study of elderly residents in selected Accra care homes has found high resistance to commonly used antibiotics, prompting calls to stop routine treatment without first identifying the infection and the appropriate medicine.

The Biomedical and Public Health Research Unit of the CSIR-Water Research Institute examined urine samples from residents aged 55 and older. The homes included facilities in Ashongman Estates, Weija-Gbawe, Kasoa-Amanfro, Pokuase, Afiaman, Amamole, Deedeman and Kuntunse.

Researchers found E. coli in 41 of 118 samples, or 34.75 percent. The bacteria showed the highest resistance to cefepime, with 65.9 percent of samples not responding to the drug. Resistance to cefuroxime reached 56.1 percent, while nitrofurantoin and aztreonam each recorded 51.2 percent resistance.

Resistance to cefuroxime stood at 56.1 per cent, while nitrofurantoin and aztreonam each recorded 51.2 per cent

· Emmanuel Odartei ArmahHe presented resistance levels recorded in the study’s E. coli samples.

The study found that 46.43 percent of the bacteria resisted more than one antibiotic, potentially making infections harder to treat. Researchers also detected fungal infections, including five cases of Candida tropicalis and 12 cases of Candida albicans, together representing 21 percent of the samples examined. Candida tropicalis showed particularly high resistance to fluconazole, a commonly used antifungal medicine.

Presenting the findings in Accra, Emmanuel Odartei Armah called for regular monitoring of resistance to antifungal medicines and stronger research and surveillance among care-home residents. The study also identified some E. coli strains with characteristics that could make them more likely to cause serious infections. Researchers organized educational programs at selected homes and urged caregivers to improve hand hygiene. They said regular screening and responsible prescribing could help ensure residents receive effective treatment while limiting drug-resistant infections.

Further tests confirmed five cases of Candida tropicalis and 12 cases of Candida albicans, representing 21 per cent of the samples examined

· Emmanuel Odartei ArmahHe reported the fungal infections detected among the elderly residents.
About this summary

Originally published by Ghanaian Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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