Browsing by Author "Darkwah, S."

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Introduction to Foodborne Infections and Intoxications Subtitle: An African Perspective
(Office of Research, Innovation and Development, University of Ghana, Legon, 2023) Sampane-Donkor, E.; Kotey, F.C.N.; Darkwah, S.; Owusu, I.A.; Tetteh-Quarcoo, P.B.; Dayie, N.T.K.D.
Foodborne infections and intoxications pose a significant global health threat, especially in Africa and other low-income regions. The goal of this book is to explore the intricate web of factors that influence foodborne infections in Africa. It delves into specific aspects of food safety, providing insights into the unique challenges and opportunities that Africa presents. By integrating disciplines such as microbiology, epidemiology, veterinary medicine, public health, and food science, the textbook advocates for a multidisciplinary approach to develop effective preventive measures, surveillance systems, and interventions.
Introduction to Foodborne Infections and Intoxications Subtitle: An African Perspective
(Office of Research, Innovation and Development, University of Ghana, Legon, 2024) Sampane-Donkor, E.; Kotey, F.C.N.; Darkwah, S.; Owusu, I.A.; Tetteh-Quarcoo, P.B.; Dayie, N.T.K.D.
Foodborne infections and intoxications pose a significant global health threat, especially in Africa and other low-income regions. The goal of this book is to explore the intricate web of factors that influence foodborne infections in Africa. It delves into specific aspects of food safety, providing insights into the unique challenges and opportunities that Africa presents. By integrating disciplines such as microbiology, epidemiology, veterinary medicine, public health, and food science, the textbook advocates for a multidisciplinary approach to develop effective preventive measures, surveillance systems, and interventions.
Introduction to Foodborne Infections and Intoxications Subtitle: An African Perspective
(Office of Research, Innovation and Development, University of Ghana, Legon, 2023) Sampane-Donkor, E.; Kotey, F.C.N.; Darkwah, S.; Owusu, I.A.; Tetteh-Quarcoo, P.B.; Dayie, N.T.K.D.
Foodborne infections and intoxications pose a significant global health threat, especially in Africa and other low-income regions. The goal of this book is to explore the intricate web of factors that influence foodborne infections in Africa. It delves into specific aspects of food safety, providing insights into the unique challenges and opportunities that Africa presents. By integrating disciplines such as microbiology, epidemiology, veterinary medicine, public health, and food science, the textbook advocates for a multidisciplinary approach to develop effective preventive measures, surveillance systems, and interventions
Renewable energy consumption in Africa: Evidence froma bias corrected dynamic panel
(Renewable energy consumption in Africa: Evidence froma bias corrected dynamic panel, 2021) Baye, R.S.; Olper, A.; Ahenkan, A.; Musah-Surugu, I.J.; Anuga, S.W.; Darkwah, S.
Our study investigates the determinants of renewable energy consumption in Sub-Sahara Africa. We explore the driving factors of renewable energy consumption in the context of carbon intensity for 32 Sub-Saharan African countries from1990 to 2015. Using carbon emission intensity to identify group-specific heterogeneity,we recognize carbon-efficient and least carbon-efficient countries in the region. By relying on the corrected least squares dummy variable estimator (LSDVC), we provide evidence on the driving factors of renewable energy consumption in Sub-Saharan Africa. Consequently, the findings point to varying degrees of impact on renewable energy consumption inthe region. For instance,we observe advancement intechnology, quality of governance, economic progress, biomass consumption, and climatic conditions influence renewable energy consumption. With a common occurrence across all groups, the implications indicate environmental, socio-economic, and climatic factors playing an important role in renewable energy consumption. The study further shows that urbanization and economic globalization depress efforts towards renewable energy consumption. Apart from these common factors, other controlling variables including; GDP per capita, environmental awareness, and biomass affect each group differently.We conclude that, policy implications can be drawn from common factors towards harmonization of clean energymarkets and developing a policy mix that combines environmental, economic, and social factors in attaining the Sustainable Development Goals.
Reservoirs of Nosocomial Pathogens in Intensive Care Units: A Systematic Review
(Environmental Health Insights, 2024) Osman, A-H.; Darkwah, S.; Kotey, F.C.N.; et al.
Background: Nosocomial pathogens are known to exacerbate morbidity and mortality in contemporary critical healthcare. Hospital fomites, which include inanimate surfaces, have been identified as “breeding grounds” for pathogens that cause nosocomial infections. This systematic review aimed to deliver incisive insights on nosocomial pathogens in intensive care units (ICUs) and the role of fomites as potential reservoirs for their transmission. Method: An extensive exploration of electronic databases, including PubMed and Scopus, from 1990 to 2023, was carried out between 25th and 29th May 2023, per standard PRISMA guidelines. Information were extracted from articles that reported on fomites in the ICU. Studies that did not quantitatively report the fomite contamination, and those that exclusively took samples from patients in the ICU were excluded from the analysis. Results: About 40% of the total samples collected on fomites from all the studies yielded microbial growth, with species of Staphylococcus being the most predominant. Other prevalent microbes were Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Candida spp., Enterococcus sp., and Enterobacter sp. The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) had the highest proportion of contaminated fomites. Among known fomites, the sphygmomanometer exhibited a 100% detection rate of nosocomial pathogens. This included E. aero genes, Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CoNS), E. coli, and K. pneumoniae. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE), extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli, and MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa were commonly isolated on fomites in the ICUs. Conclusion: Many fomites that are readily used in patient care in the ICU harbour nosocomial pathogens. The most common fomite appeared to be mobile phones, sphygmomanometers, and stethoscopes, with Staphylococcus being the most common contaminant. Consequently, the need for rigorous disinfection and sterilization protocols on fomites in the ICU cannot be overemphasized. Additionally, heightened awareness on the subject among health professionals is crucial to mitigating the risk and burden of nosocomial infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria.
A Study of Post Stroke Urinary Tract Infection at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital
(University of Ghana, 2015-07) Darkwah, S.; Sampane-Donkor, E.; Akpalu, A.; University of Ghana, College of Health Sciences, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, Department of Medical Microbiology
BACKGROUND Infections are known to be a major complication of stroke patients. The relationship between stroke and bacteriuria has rarely been studied in sub-Saharan Africa, though this information could be relevant in the management of stroke in the sub-region. AIM :The aim of the study was to investigate the epidemiology of post stroke bacteriuria at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital including the prevalence, incidence, risk factors and causative organisms. METHODS :This was a longitudinal study involving 55 stroke out-patients and 16 in-patients recruited at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. Stroke out-patients were followed up at the Physiotherapy Clinic of the hospital weekly for three months and urine specimens were collected on each occasion for analysis. Urine specimens were collected from the stroke in-patients daily during admission until discharged from the hospital ward. Demographic and clinical information were also collected from all the study subjects. RESULTS :Stroke in-patients had a higher prevalence of bacteriuria (18.8%) than stroke out-patients (10.9%) with a relative risk of 1.72 (p=0.411). Similarly, stroke in-patients had a higher incidence of bacteriuria (6.3%) than stroke out-patients (1.8%) with a relative risk of 3.5 (p=0.125). Three risk factors of bacteriuria and UTI were identified among the stroke patients and included stroke severity (p<0.001), diabetes (p<0.001) and pyuria (p=0.09). Nine bacteria organisms were identified from the urine cultures of the stroke patients but the most common was Escherichia coli (33.3%). All the Escherichia coli isolates were susceptible to chloramphenicol and amikacin, with the highest resistance observed with cotrimoxazole, ampicillin, norfloxacin and cefuroxime. CONCLUSION :The incidence of bacteriuria observed at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital was low among both stroke out-patients and in-patients, though the prevalence was quite high. Escherichia coli is the main cause of bacteriuria among the stroke patients at this hospital and the infection could be managed with chloramphenicol and amikacin. The study identified several risk factors of post stroke bacteriuria such as stroke severity and diabetes which is useful in the prevention and management of bacteriuria.