Browsing by Author "Narter-Olaga, E.G."
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Item Bacterial contamination of blood and blood components in three major blood transfusion centers, Accra, Ghana(Japan Journal Infect Dis., 2009) Adiku, T.K.; Adjei, A.A.; Kuma, G.K.; Tettey, Y.; Ayeh-Kumi, P.F.; Opintan, J.; Apeagyei, F.; Ankrah, J.O.; Narter-Olaga, E.G.Reports from studies conducted in several countries indicate a high incidence of bacterial contamination of donor blood. The prevalence of bacterial contamination of blood and its products in Ghana is not known. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of bacterial contamination of blood and its products at the three major blood transfusion centers in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Stored whole blood and its products were cultured on different media, and isolates were identified using standard biochemical and bacteriological methods. The susceptibility of the isolates to selected antimicrobial agents was also determined by the disc diffusion method. The overall prevalence rate was 9% (28/303; whole blood, 13% [24/192]; plasma, 3% [2/79]; platelet, 9% [2/22]). The Gram-positive bacteria isolated were coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, S. aureus, and Bacillus spp., and the Gram-negative organisms were Yersinia enterocolitica, Citrobacter freundii, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The Gram-positive bacteria were sensitive to cloxacillin, erythromycin, tetracycline, and gentamicin but resistant to penicillin, ampicillin, cefuroxime, and cotrimoxazole, while the Gram-negative bacteria were sensitive to amikacin and gentamicin but resistant to chloramphenicol, tetracycline, ampicillin, cefuroxime, cefotaxime (except Y. enterocolitica), and cotrimoxazole. Our results suggest that bacterial contamination of blood and its products is prevalent in Ghana.Item Prevalence of Antibodies to Human Tlymphotropic Virus Type I Among Blood Donors at the 37th Military Hospital, Accra, Ghana.(University of Ghana, 2004-06) Narter-Olaga, E.G.; Adjei, A.A.,; Wiredu, E.K.; Tettey, Y.; Gyasi, R. K.; Wadhwani, J. M.; University of Ghana, College of Health Sciences School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences Department of PathologySeveral infectious diseases have been found to be associated with transfusion o f whole blood or blood components. Reports from studies conducted in many African countries indicate a high incidence of blood-borne pathogens such as human T-lymphotropic virus type-I (HTLV-I) among healthy blood donors. Experimental data indicate that a r. ajor route for transmission o f the HTLV-I is through blood transfusion. The prevalence o f HTLV-I antibodies among blood donors in Ghana is not well documented. Population surveys cannot be conducted for financial reasons and therefore sentinel studies are the only means for providing information on the transmissions of infections such as HTLV-I, as well as monitoring the changes over time. The study was therefore undertaken to determine the prevalence o f HTLV-I antibodies among blood donors, between the months of January to April 2004 at the 37th Military Hospital Blood Transfusion Service, Accra, Ghana. A combination o f particle agglutination test and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to assess the prevalence and distribution of antibodies to HTLV-I. A structured questionnaire was also administered to the blood donors after an informed oral and written consent was taken. This involved questions on personal information, knowledge about HTLV-I transfusion, sexual behaviour, lifestyle and histories o f transfusion-transmitted diseases. Beginning from January to April 2004, blood samples were collected from blood donors, serum separated and analysed for the presence of antibodies to HTLV-I. A total o f 1225 samples (1158 males and 67 females) were analysed. Their ages ranged from 20-69 years; with majority (75.5%; 925/1225) of the blood donors studied between the 30-^9 years age group. Ofth e 1225 samples tested, 1196 were negative and 29 were positive lor HTLV-I antibodies giving a prevalence rate of 2.4%. Two females were positive out o f 67 (2.9%) and 27 males were positive out o f 1158 (2.3%) male donors. Majority of the donors were married (914; 74.6%) and the rest (311; 25.4%) were not married. Of the married donors, 21 were positive for HTLV-I antibodies, giving a prevalence rate o f 2.3% among married donor. Most ofItem Seroprevalence of Cytomegalovirus among some voluntary blood donors at the 37 Military Hospital, Accra, Ghana(Ghana Medical Journal, 2006) Adjei, A.A.; Armah, H.B.; Narter-Olaga, E.G.Background Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is one of the most significant pathogens infecting immunosuppressed individuals. CMV is transmissible through transfusion of blood components. Aim The goal of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of antibodies to CMV among blood donors seen at the 37 Military Hospital Blood Transfusion Unit, (MHBTU) Accra, Ghana. Methods The seroprevalence of antibodies specific for CMV was tested using CMV IgG/IgM particle agglutination test kit and ELISA. Results Of the 264 blood donors, 18 were negative and 246 were positive for CMV IgG antibodies, giving an overall CMV prevalence rate of 93.2%. None of the 264 blood donors was positive for CMV IgM antibodies. About 96% of the donors aged between 30 to 39 years were seropositive for CMV, as against 91.9% in those aged 20–29 years, 88.6% in 40 to 49 years, 75.0% (3 out of 4) in 50 to 59 years, and 100% (1 out 1) in 60–69 years. There was no statistically significant difference (P>0.05) in the CMV IgG status in different age groups. The blood donors comprised largely of male donors (236 out of 264), making sex comparisons statistically undesirable. However, all the female (n=28) donors were positive for CMV IgG. Conclusion Since about 93% of blood donors at the MHBTU are seropositive for CMV, it would be very useful to screen blood donors in Ghana for CMV to identify the very few CMV-seronegative blood donors, and maintain an inventory of them for use as donors.Item Seroprevalence of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I among pregnant women in Accra, Ghana(Journal of Medical Microbiology, 2006) Armah, H.B.; Narter-Olaga, E.G.; Adjei, A.A.; Asomaning, K.; Gyasi, R.K.; Tettey, Y.Infection with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) occurs mainly in Japan, Central and West Africa and the Caribbean Basin. Although antibody to HTLV-I has been reported among pregnant women in several endemic countries, there is no information regarding the seroprevalence in pregnant Ghanaian women. The reported seroprevalence of HTLV-I among healthy Ghanaian blood donors is between 0.5 and 4.2 %. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of HTLV-I among pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at the 37 Military Hospital, Accra, Ghana, between the months of January and December 2003. The presence of antibodies specific for HTLV-I/II was tested using a particle agglutination test (PAT) kit and confirmed by Western blotting (WB). Of the 960 sera tested, HTLV-I/II antibodies were detected in 24 samples using the PAT kit. WB results indicated that, of the 24 positive PAT specimens, 20 specimens (83.3 %) were HTLV-I positive, one (4.2 %) was HTLV-II positive, two (8.3 %) were HTLV positive and one (4.2 %) was indeterminate. Therefore, the overall seroprevalence of HTLV-I was 2.1 %. Seroprevalence increased with age, suggesting sexual contact as the primary mode of transmission among women of childbearing age, rather than breastfeeding during infancy. The seroprevalence of 2.1 % reported here for HTLV-I in pregnant women in Accra is comparable to that of human immunodeficiency virus among the same population. In conclusion, the results indicate that HTLV-I is prevalent among asymptomatic Ghanaian pregnant women and thus there is a need to consider introducing antenatal screening for HTLV-I in Ghana.