Coliform Load and Antimicrobial Resistance in Ghana’s Seafood Processing Effluent (2021–2024): Evidence of Operational Improvement and Persistent AMR Risk

Ebenezer Worlanyo Wallace-Dickson; Meldon Ansah koi Agyarkwa; Nana Ama Browne Klutse; Esi Nana Nerquaye-Tetteh; Abdalla Abubakari; Selina Amoah; Jewel Kudjawu; Godfred Saviour Azaglo; Mariam Fuowie Batong; Johnson Ade; Isaac Junior Okyere; Mary Magdalene Osei; Karyn Ewurama Quansah; Emmanuel Martin Obeng Bekoe; George Kwesi Hedidor; Divya Nair; Robert Fraser Terry; Japheth A. Opintan

doi:10.3390/life16010107

Coliform Load and Antimicrobial Resistance in Ghana’s Seafood Processing Effluent (2021–2024): Evidence of Operational Improvement and Persistent AMR Risk

Ebenezer Worlanyo Wallace-Dickson
, Meldon Ansah koi Agyarkwa
, Nana Ama Browne Klutse
, Esi Nana Nerquaye-Tetteh
, Abdalla Abubakari
, Selina Amoah
, Jewel Kudjawu
, Godfred Saviour Azaglo
, Mariam Fuowie Batong
, Johnson Ade
, Isaac Junior Okyere
, Mary Magdalene Osei
, Karyn Ewurama Quansah
, Emmanuel Martin Obeng Bekoe
, George Kwesi Hedidor
, Divya Nair
, Robert Fraser Terry
, Japheth A. Opintan

Ghana Environmental Protection Authority
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
University of Ghana
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research—Water Research Institute
World Health Organization

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) can disseminate through effluents from seafood processing facilities (SPFs), posing environmental and public health risks. This study assessed changes in coliform load and antimicrobial resistance patterns in effluents from two SPFs in Tema, Ghana, before and after upgrades to effluent treatment systems between 2022 and 2024. A total of 19 effluent samples were collected per SPF in 2021–2022, 20 effluent samples each per SPF in 2024, and 8 potable water samples each per SPF in 2024. Median coliform counts declined significantly in both facilities (SPF-1: 920 to 35 MPN/100 mL; SPF-2: 280 to 9.5 MPN/100 mL; p < 0.001), representing a 96% overall reduction. Escherichia coli prevalence decreased markedly in SPF-2, although Pseudomonas aeruginosa emerged after treatment upgrades. Resistance to third-generation cephalosporins and multidrug resistance declined, particularly in SPF-1, but persisted across both facilities. Potable water used for seafood processing showed low but detectable coliform contamination. Despite substantial reductions in coliform bacterial load, the continued presence of resistant gram-negative bacteria highlights the need for sustained AMR surveillance, mandatory effective effluent treatment, and routine disinfection of potable water to protect public health.

Original language	English
Article number	107
Journal	Life
Volume	16
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/life16010107
Publication status	Published - Jan 2026

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

One Health
SORT IT
antimicrobial resistance
effluent
operational research
potable water
seafood processing

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10.3390/life16010107

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Wallace-Dickson, E. W., Agyarkwa, M. A. K., Klutse, N. A. B., Nerquaye-Tetteh, E. N., Abubakari, A., Amoah, S., Kudjawu, J., Azaglo, G. S., Batong, M. F., Ade, J., Okyere, I. J., Osei, M. M., Quansah, K. E., Obeng Bekoe, E. M., Hedidor, G. K., Nair, D., Terry, R. F., & Opintan, J. A. (2026). Coliform Load and Antimicrobial Resistance in Ghana’s Seafood Processing Effluent (2021–2024): Evidence of Operational Improvement and Persistent AMR Risk. Life, 16(1), Article 107. https://doi.org/10.3390/life16010107

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title = "Coliform Load and Antimicrobial Resistance in Ghana{\textquoteright}s Seafood Processing Effluent (2021–2024): Evidence of Operational Improvement and Persistent AMR Risk",

abstract = "Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) can disseminate through effluents from seafood processing facilities (SPFs), posing environmental and public health risks. This study assessed changes in coliform load and antimicrobial resistance patterns in effluents from two SPFs in Tema, Ghana, before and after upgrades to effluent treatment systems between 2022 and 2024. A total of 19 effluent samples were collected per SPF in 2021–2022, 20 effluent samples each per SPF in 2024, and 8 potable water samples each per SPF in 2024. Median coliform counts declined significantly in both facilities (SPF-1: 920 to 35 MPN/100 mL; SPF-2: 280 to 9.5 MPN/100 mL; p < 0.001), representing a 96\% overall reduction. Escherichia coli prevalence decreased markedly in SPF-2, although Pseudomonas aeruginosa emerged after treatment upgrades. Resistance to third-generation cephalosporins and multidrug resistance declined, particularly in SPF-1, but persisted across both facilities. Potable water used for seafood processing showed low but detectable coliform contamination. Despite substantial reductions in coliform bacterial load, the continued presence of resistant gram-negative bacteria highlights the need for sustained AMR surveillance, mandatory effective effluent treatment, and routine disinfection of potable water to protect public health.",

keywords = "One Health, SORT IT, antimicrobial resistance, effluent, operational research, potable water, seafood processing",

author = "Wallace-Dickson, \{Ebenezer Worlanyo\} and Agyarkwa, \{Meldon Ansah koi\} and Klutse, \{Nana Ama Browne\} and Nerquaye-Tetteh, \{Esi Nana\} and Abdalla Abubakari and Selina Amoah and Jewel Kudjawu and Azaglo, \{Godfred Saviour\} and Batong, \{Mariam Fuowie\} and Johnson Ade and Okyere, \{Isaac Junior\} and Osei, \{Mary Magdalene\} and Quansah, \{Karyn Ewurama\} and \{Obeng Bekoe\}, \{Emmanuel Martin\} and Hedidor, \{George Kwesi\} and Divya Nair and Terry, \{Robert Fraser\} and Opintan, \{Japheth A.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2026 by the authors.",

year = "2026",

month = jan,

doi = "10.3390/life16010107",

language = "English",

volume = "16",

journal = "Life",

issn = "2075-1729",

publisher = "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)",

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Wallace-Dickson, EW, Agyarkwa, MAK, Klutse, NAB, Nerquaye-Tetteh, EN, Abubakari, A, Amoah, S, Kudjawu, J, Azaglo, GS, Batong, MF, Ade, J, Okyere, IJ, Osei, MM, Quansah, KE, Obeng Bekoe, EM, Hedidor, GK, Nair, D, Terry, RF & Opintan, JA 2026, 'Coliform Load and Antimicrobial Resistance in Ghana’s Seafood Processing Effluent (2021–2024): Evidence of Operational Improvement and Persistent AMR Risk', Life, vol. 16, no. 1, 107. https://doi.org/10.3390/life16010107

TY - JOUR

T1 - Coliform Load and Antimicrobial Resistance in Ghana’s Seafood Processing Effluent (2021–2024)

T2 - Evidence of Operational Improvement and Persistent AMR Risk

AU - Wallace-Dickson, Ebenezer Worlanyo

AU - Agyarkwa, Meldon Ansah koi

AU - Klutse, Nana Ama Browne

AU - Nerquaye-Tetteh, Esi Nana

AU - Abubakari, Abdalla

AU - Amoah, Selina

AU - Kudjawu, Jewel

AU - Azaglo, Godfred Saviour

AU - Batong, Mariam Fuowie

AU - Ade, Johnson

AU - Okyere, Isaac Junior

AU - Osei, Mary Magdalene

AU - Quansah, Karyn Ewurama

AU - Obeng Bekoe, Emmanuel Martin

AU - Hedidor, George Kwesi

AU - Nair, Divya

AU - Terry, Robert Fraser

AU - Opintan, Japheth A.

PY - 2026/1

Y1 - 2026/1

N2 - Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) can disseminate through effluents from seafood processing facilities (SPFs), posing environmental and public health risks. This study assessed changes in coliform load and antimicrobial resistance patterns in effluents from two SPFs in Tema, Ghana, before and after upgrades to effluent treatment systems between 2022 and 2024. A total of 19 effluent samples were collected per SPF in 2021–2022, 20 effluent samples each per SPF in 2024, and 8 potable water samples each per SPF in 2024. Median coliform counts declined significantly in both facilities (SPF-1: 920 to 35 MPN/100 mL; SPF-2: 280 to 9.5 MPN/100 mL; p < 0.001), representing a 96% overall reduction. Escherichia coli prevalence decreased markedly in SPF-2, although Pseudomonas aeruginosa emerged after treatment upgrades. Resistance to third-generation cephalosporins and multidrug resistance declined, particularly in SPF-1, but persisted across both facilities. Potable water used for seafood processing showed low but detectable coliform contamination. Despite substantial reductions in coliform bacterial load, the continued presence of resistant gram-negative bacteria highlights the need for sustained AMR surveillance, mandatory effective effluent treatment, and routine disinfection of potable water to protect public health.

AB - Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) can disseminate through effluents from seafood processing facilities (SPFs), posing environmental and public health risks. This study assessed changes in coliform load and antimicrobial resistance patterns in effluents from two SPFs in Tema, Ghana, before and after upgrades to effluent treatment systems between 2022 and 2024. A total of 19 effluent samples were collected per SPF in 2021–2022, 20 effluent samples each per SPF in 2024, and 8 potable water samples each per SPF in 2024. Median coliform counts declined significantly in both facilities (SPF-1: 920 to 35 MPN/100 mL; SPF-2: 280 to 9.5 MPN/100 mL; p < 0.001), representing a 96% overall reduction. Escherichia coli prevalence decreased markedly in SPF-2, although Pseudomonas aeruginosa emerged after treatment upgrades. Resistance to third-generation cephalosporins and multidrug resistance declined, particularly in SPF-1, but persisted across both facilities. Potable water used for seafood processing showed low but detectable coliform contamination. Despite substantial reductions in coliform bacterial load, the continued presence of resistant gram-negative bacteria highlights the need for sustained AMR surveillance, mandatory effective effluent treatment, and routine disinfection of potable water to protect public health.

KW - One Health

KW - SORT IT

KW - antimicrobial resistance

KW - effluent

KW - operational research

KW - potable water

KW - seafood processing

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105028730137

U2 - 10.3390/life16010107

DO - 10.3390/life16010107

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105028730137

SN - 2075-1729

VL - 16

JO - Life

JF - Life

IS - 1

M1 - 107

ER -

Coliform Load and Antimicrobial Resistance in Ghana’s Seafood Processing Effluent (2021–2024): Evidence of Operational Improvement and Persistent AMR Risk

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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