Local Surveillance Identifies High-Priority Gram-Negative Pathogens to Guide Antibiotic Stewardship in Ghana: A...

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Gram-negative bacteria are significant causes of human infections globally.
• Understanding antibiotic resistance patterns is crucial for effective treatment and public health strategies, especially in regions like Ghana.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the antibiotic sensitivity profile of clinical Gram-negative bacterial isolates in Ghana.
• To identify high-priority pathogens posing a threat to public health.
• To inform antimicrobial stewardship and treatment guidelines.

Main Methods:

• Collection of Gram-negative isolates from various clinical samples (urine, stool, wound, blood).
• Antimicrobial susceptibility testing using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method against 10 antibiotics.
• Identification of predominant bacterial species and analysis of resistance patterns.

Main Results:

• Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were the most common isolates.
• High resistance rates were observed for ampicillin (94%), tigecycline (85.5%), and chloramphenicol (76%).
• Acinetobacter baumannii showed the highest resistance phenotype; lower resistance was noted for colistin (4%) and meropenem (20%).

Conclusions:

• Tigecycline, ampicillin, and chloramphenicol are largely ineffective against many Gram-negative pathogens in this Ghanaian cohort.
• Meropenem and colistin remain effective treatment options but require vigilant monitoring to prevent the emergence of resistance.
• The findings underscore the urgent need for antimicrobial stewardship programs to combat rising Gram-negative resistance.