Seventh Annual Research Meeting of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research: Bacterial Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is rapidly advancing, surpassing the development of new control measures and posing significant threats to patient care, public health, agriculture, economic growth, and global security, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Bacterial infections, responsible for about 7.7 million deaths annually, are often caused by AMR bacteria. The WHO has identified several bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, as priority pathogens for global surveillance due to their resistance to common antimicrobials. At the 2022 Annual Research Meeting (ARM) of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, the prevalence of AMR among humans, animals, and the environment in Ghana was highlighted. Studies revealed the widespread presence of the blaCTX-M gene in K. pneumoniae and E. coli from surgical site infections in Accra, posing significant public health threats. Additionally, global clones of Carbapenemase-producing E. coli with resistance to fluoroquinolones and other antibiotics were reported. Research also noted the lack of data on AMR bacteria in water for human use, finding high levels of coliforms and AMR bacteria in drinking water and lettuce irrigated with contaminated water. Whole genome sequencing of bacterial pathogens from febrile patients revealed multi-drug resistant Salmonella spp. Continuous AMR surveillance and advanced genomic tools are recommended to generate detailed data for better treatment decisions and surveillance strategies.