Browsing by Author "Asare, L."
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Item Characterization of Two New Multidrug-Resistant Strains of Mycobacterium smegmatis: Tools for Routine In Vitro Screening of Novel Anti-Mycobacterial Agents(Antibiotics, 2019-01) Arthur, P.K.; Amarh, V.; Cramer, P.; Arkaifie, G.B.; Blessie, E.J.S.; Fuseini, M.S.; Carilo, I.; Yeboah, R.; Asare, L.; Robertson, B.D.Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a pathogen of global public health concern. This threat is exacerbated by the emergence of multidrug-resistant and extremely-drug-resistant strains of the pathogen. We have obtained two distinct clones of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium smegmatis after gradual exposure of Mycobacterium smegmatis mc² 155 to increasing concentrations of erythromycin. The resulting resistant strains of Mycobacterium smegmatis exhibited robust viability in the presence of high concentrations of erythromycin and were found to be resistant to a wide range of other antimicrobials. They also displayed a unique growth phenotype in comparison to the parental drug-susceptible Mycobacterium smegmatis mc² 155, and a distinct colony morphology in the presence of cholesterol. We propose that these two multidrug-resistant clones of Mycobacterium smegmatis could be used as model organisms at the inceptive phase of routine in vitro screening of novel antimicrobial agents targeted against multidrug-resistant Mycobacterial tuberculosis.Item Malaria, helminths and malnutrition: a cross-sectional survey of school children in the South-Tongu district of Ghana(2016-04-27) Ayeh-Kumi, P.F.; Addo-Osafo, K.; Attah, S.K.; Tetteh-Quarcoo, P.B.; Obeng-Nkrumah, N.; Awuah-Mensah, G.; Abbey, H.N.A.; Forson, A.; Cham, M.; Asare, L.; Duedu, K.O.; Asmah, R.H.Abstract Background As part of malaria characterization study in the South-Tongu district of Ghana, the current study was conducted to explore relationships between malaria, schistosomiasis, soil transmitted helminths and malnutrition in riparian community settings that had hitherto encountered episodes of mass deworming exercises. Methods School-age children were enrolled in a cross-sectional study from April through July 2012. Stool and urine samples were examined respectively for helminths and Schistosoma haematobium. Blood samples were analyzed for malaria parasites and haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations, respectively. Anthropometric indices were measured. Relationships were determined using generalized linear models. Results The results show low numbers of asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum (9.2 %, n = 37/404) and S. haematobium (2.5 %, n = 10/404) infections. The associations between significance terms in the multivariate analysis for P. falciparum infections were further assessed to test the significance of the product terms directly i.e., age in years [adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 3.1; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.1–5.6], Hb concentration (AOR = 0.71; 95 % CI 0.42–2.3), and stunted malnutrition (AOR, 8.72; 95 % CI 4.8–25.1). The P. falciparum-associated decrease in mean Hb concentration was 2.82 g/dl (95 % CI 1.63–4.1 g/dl; P = 0.001) in stunted children, and 0.75 g/dl (95 % CI 1.59–0.085 g/dl; P = 0.076) in the non-stunted cohort. The anaemia-associated decrease in mean parasitaemia in stunted children was 3500 parasites/µl of blood (95 % CI 262.46–6737.54 parasites/µl of blood; P = 0.036), and in non-stunted children 2127 parasites/µl of blood (95 % CI −0.27 to 4.53; P = 0.085). Stunted malnutrition was the strongest predictor of S. haematobium infection (AOR = 11; 95 % CI 3.1–33.6) but significant associations as described for P. falciparum infections were absent. The population attributable risk of anaemia due to P. falciparum was 6.3 % (95 % CI 2.5–9.3), 0.9 % (95 % CI 0.4–2.3) for S. haematobium, and 12.5 % (95 % CI 9.11–19.52) for stunted malnutrition. Conclusion Plasmodium falciparum, S. haematobium, intestinal helminths and their co-infections were uncommon in our school-age children. Stunting exacerbated the extent to which malaria was associated with loss in Hb concentration.Item Malaria, helminths and malnutrition: A cross-sectional survey of school children in the South-Tongu district of Ghana(BioMed Central Ltd., 2016) Ayeh-Kumi, P.F.; Addo-Osafo, K.; Attah, S.K.; Tetteh-Quarcoo, P.B.; Obeng-Nkrumah, N.; Awuah-Mensah, G.; Abbey, H.N.A.; Forson, A.; Cham, M.; Asare, L.; Duedu, K.O.; Asmah, R.H.Background: As part of malaria characterization study in the South-Tongu district of Ghana, the current study was conducted to explore relationships between malaria, schistosomiasis, soil transmitted helminths and malnutrition in riparian community settings that had hitherto encountered episodes of mass deworming exercises. Methods: School-age children were enrolled in a cross-sectional study from April through July 2012. Stool and urine samples were examined respectively for helminths and Schistosoma haematobium. Blood samples were analyzed for malaria parasites and haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations, respectively. Anthropometric indices were measured. Relationships were determined using generalized linear models. Results: The results show low numbers of asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum (9.2 %, n = 37/404) and S. haematobium (2.5 %, n = 10/404) infections. The associations between significance terms in the multivariate analysis for P. falciparum infections were further assessed to test the significance of the product terms directly i.e., age in years [adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 3.1; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.1-5.6], Hb concentration (AOR = 0.71; 95 % CI 0.42-2.3), and stunted malnutrition (AOR, 8.72; 95 % CI 4.8-25.1). The P. falciparum-associated decrease in mean Hb concentration was 2.82 g/dl (95 % CI 1.63-4.1 g/dl; P = 0.001) in stunted children, and 0.75 g/dl (95 % CI 1.59-0.085 g/dl; P = 0.076) in the non-stunted cohort. The anaemia-associated decrease in mean parasitaemia in stunted children was 3500 parasites/μl of blood (95 % CI 262.46-6737.54 parasites/μl of blood; P = 0.036), and in non-stunted children 2127 parasites/μl of blood (95 % CI -0.27 to 4.53; P = 0.085). Stunted malnutrition was the strongest predictor of S. haematobium infection (AOR = 11; 95 % CI 3.1-33.6) but significant associations as described for P. falciparum infections were absent. The population attributable risk of anaemia due to P. falciparum was 6.3 % (95 % CI 2.5-9.3), 0.9 % (95 % CI 0.4-2.3) for S. haematobium, and 12.5 % (95 % CI 9.11-19.52) for stunted malnutrition. Conclusion: Plasmodium falciparum, S. haematobium, intestinal helminths and their co-infections were uncommon in our school-age children. Stunting exacerbated the extent to which malaria was associated with loss in Hb concentration.Item Trichomonas vaginalis infection and the diagnostic significance of detection tests among Ghanaian outpatients(BMC Women's Health, 2018-12) Asmah, R.H.; Agyeman, R.O.; Obeng-Nkrumah, N.; Blankson, H.; Awuah-Mensah, G.; Cham, M.; Asare, L.; Ayeh-Kumi, P.F.BACKGROUND: There is little data on Trichomonas vaginalis infection in Ghana. This study evaluated the prevalence of trichomoniasis using different diagnostic methods and determined the risk factors for infection in patients. METHODS: A structured questionnaire was administered. Vaginal swabs, urethral swabs and urine specimens were obtained from consenting patients; and the samples processed following standard protocols. The presence of T. vaginalis was determined using wet mount microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as gold standard. We also assessed the diagnostic performance the JD's Trichomonas V® rapid antigen test to inform clinical practice. RESULTS: The PCR assay detected T. vaginalis positivity in 64 of 150 patients (42.6, 95%CI:35.0, 50.6) including all positive samples of wet mount microscopy and JD's Trichomonas V® test. Wet mount microscopy showed low sensitivity (31.6%), high specificity (100%), moderate positive predictive value (75.0%), moderate positive likelihood ratio (3.0), and weak agreement (Cohen's kappa, 0.283) with PCR assay. The JD's Trichomonas V® test displayed lower sensitivity (25.0%), specificity (83.3%), and weaker measure of agreement (Cohen's kappa, 0.233) with PCR. In multivariate analysis, the strongest independent predictor for T. vaginalis was female gender [adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 24.89; 95% confidence interval (CI): 10.58, 51.21; P-value< 0.001]. Knowledge of STI showed a protective effect against infection with the parasite (AOR, 0.13; 95%CI: 0.07, 0.29; P-value< 0.017). CONCLUSION: The sensitivity of wet mount microscopy was low for T. vaginalis screening in our region. The JD's Trichomonas V® test should not be considered as an alternative test. We recommend mandatory PCR assay for confirmation of negative wet mount results.