Browsing by Author "Nguah, Samuel Blay"

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    Aetiological agents of cerebrospinal meningitis: a retrospective study from a teaching hospital in Ghana
    (Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials, 2012) Owusu, Michael; Nguah, Samuel Blay; Boaitey, Yaw Agyekum; Badu-Boateng, Ernest; Abubakr, Abdul-Raman; Lartey, Robert Awuley; Adu-Sarkodie, Yaw; 0000-0001-5066-150X; 0000-0002-2118-7711; 0000-0002-0496-5155
    Background: Meningitis is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in low-resource settings. In sub-Saharan Africa, the meningitis belt has been characterized by particularly high and seasonal incidences of bacterial meningitis extending throughout life. Despite the progress being made in treating the condition, the mortality rates continue to be high, ranging between 2% and 30% globally. In Ghana, the mortality rate of meningitis has been estimated to range from 36% to 50%. However little information is available on the pathogens contributing to meningitis and their antimicrobial susceptibilities. Updated information is essential to adjust the recommendations for empirical treatment or prevention of meningitis which could have immense implications for local and global health. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed laboratory records of all patients suspected of bacterial meningitis who underwent a lumbar puncture from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2010. Data were retrieved from laboratory record books and double entered into a MicrosoftW excel spreadsheet. Results: Records of 4,955 cerebrospinal fluid samples were analysed. Of these, 163 (3.3%, 95%CI: 2.8% to 3.8%) were confirmed meningitis and 106 (2.1%, 95%CI: 1.7% to 2.6%) were probable meningitis cases. Confirmed meningitis cases were made up of 117 (71.8%) culture positive bacteria, 19 (11.7%) culture positive Cryptococcus neoformans and 27(16.6%) Gram positive bacteria with negative culture. The most prevalent bacteria was Streptococcus pneumoniae 91 (77.7%), followed by E.coli 4 (3.4%), Salmonella species 4 (3.4%), Neisseria meningitidis 3 (2.5%), Pseudomonas species 3(2.5%) and others. Pneumococcal isolates susceptibility to penicillin, chloramphenicol and ceftriaxone were 98.9% (95%CI: 94.0% to 100.0%), 83.0% (95%CI: 73.4% to 90.1%) and 100.0% (95%CI: 95.8% to 100.0%) respectively. Conclusion: Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important cause of meningitis among all age groups and its susceptibility to penicillin and ceftriaxone still remains very high. Ghanaians of all ages and possibly other developing countries in the meningitis belt could benefit from the use of the pneumococcal vaccine. Other bacterial and fungal pathogens should also be considered in the management of patients presenting with meningitis.
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    Aetiological agents of pneumonia among HIV and non-HIV infected children in Ghana: A case-control study
    (plos one, 2024-03) Owusu, Michael; Adu, Eric; Kalu, , Lotenna Elsie; Martey, Eugene; Acheampong, Godfred; Enimil, Anthony; Appiah, John Adabie; Badu-Peprah, Augustina; Sylverken, Justice; Sylverken, Augustina Angelina; Nguah, Samuel Blay; Westeel, Emilie; Pouzol, Stephane; Drosten, Christian; Adu-Sarkodie, Yaw; 0000-0003-0979-4006
    Pneumonia is the leading cause of death in children, however, the microbial aetiology of pneumonia is not well elucidated in low- and middle-income countries. Our study was aimed at determining the microbial aetiologies of childhood pneumonia and associated risk factors in HIV and non-HIV infected children. We conducted a case-control study that enrolled chil dren with pneumonia as cases and non-pneumonia as controls from July 2017 to May 2020. Induced sputum and blood samples were investigated for microbial organisms using stan dard microbiological techniques. DNA/RNA was extracted from sputum samples and tested for viral and bacterial agents. Four hundred and four (404) subjects consisting of 231 (57.2%) cases and 173 (42.8%) controls were enrolled. We identified a significant (p =0.011) proportion of viruses in cases (125; 54.1%, 95%CI: 47.4–60.7) than controls (71;33.6%, 95%CI: 33.6–48.8) and these were mostly contributed to by Respiratory Syncytial Virus. Staphylococcus aureus (16; 4.0%), Klebsiella spp. (15, 3.7%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (8, 2.0%) were the main bacterial agents identified in sputum or induced spu tum samples. HIV infected children with viral-bacterial co-detection were found to have verysevere pneumonia compared to those with only viral or bacterial infection. Indoor cooking (OR = 2.36; 95%CI:1.41–3.96) was found to be associated with pneumonia risk in patients. This study demonstrates the importance of various microbial pathogens, particularly RSV, in contributing to pneumonia in HIV and non-HIV paediatric populations. There is a need to accelerate clinical trials of RSV vaccines in African populations to support improvement of patient care
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    Anthropometric Measurements: Options for Identifying Low Birth Weight Newborns in Kumasi, Ghana
    (PLOS One, 2014) Otupiri, Easmon; Wobil, Priscilla; Nguah, Samuel Blay; Hindin, Michelle J.; 0000-0001-8986-1648
    Background: In Ghana, 32% of deliveries take place outside a health facility, and birth weight is not measured. Low birth weight (LBW) newborns who are at increased risk of death and disability, are not identified; 13%–14% of newborns in Ghana are LBW. We aimed at determining whether alternative anthropometrics could be used to identify LBW newborns when weighing scales are not available to measure birth weight. Methods: We studied 973 mother and newborn pairs at the Komfo Anokye Teaching and the Suntreso Government hospitals between November 2011 and October 2012. We used standard techniques to record anthropometric measurements of newborns within 24 hours of birth; low birth weight was defined as birth weight ,2.5kg. Pearson’s correlation coefficient and the area under the curve were used to determine the best predictors of low birth weight. The sensitivity, specificity and predictive values were reported with 95% confidence intervals at generated cut-off values. Results: One-fifth (21.7%) of newborns weighed less than 2.5 kg. Among LBW newborns, the following measurements had the highest correlations with birth weight: chest circumference (r = 0.69), mid-upper arm circumference (r = 0.68) and calf circumference (r = 0.66); the areas under the curves of these three measurements demonstrated the highest accuracy in determining LBW newborns. Chest, mid-upper arm and calf circumferences at cut-off values of 29.8 cm, 9.4 cm and 9.5 cm respectively, had the best combination of maximum sensitivity, specificity and predictive values for identifying newborns with LBW. Conclusions: Anthropometric measurements, such as the chest circumference, mid-upper arm circumference and calf circumference, offer an opportunity for the identification of and subsequent support for LBW newborns in settings in Ghana, where birth weights are not measured by standardized weighing scales.