Neyaz Ahmed Khan

Livestock contributes substantially to global food systems and livelihoods, particularly in low-income countries such as Burkina Faso. However, intensified poultry production has been associated with increased antibiotic use and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This study assessed the occurrence and antimicrobial resistance profiles of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from poultry stool and raw meat samples collected in rural and urban areas of Burkina Faso. This cross-sectional study was conducted between February 2022 and December 2024 in Ouagadougou and Nouna. A total of 374 samples were collected, and the isolates were identified using biochemical testing and the VITEK 2 Compact system. ESBL production was confirmed using the combined-disk method according to EUCAST, 2022 guidelines. ESBL-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae were detected in 70 (18.7%; 95% CI: 15.0–23.1) and 25 (6.7%; 95% CI: 4.5–9.8) samples, respectively. Among poultry stool samples, ESBL-producing E. coli were detected at similar frequencies in Ouagadougou and Nouna (Holm-adjusted p = 0.250), whereas ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae were detected significantly more frequently in Ouagadougou (Holm-adjusted p = 0.004). E. coli showed high resistance to ampicillin (100%), tetracycline (90.0%), cefuroxime (84.3%), and ceftriaxone (81.4%). All K. pneumoniae isolates were resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline, cefuroxime, ceftriaxone, and cotrimoxazole (100% each). Multidrug resistance was observed in 98.6% of E. coli and 100% of K. pneumoniae isolates. The detection of these organisms in the poultry production system and raw meat highlights the potential risk of foodborne transmission to humans. These findings underscore the need for improved antimicrobial stewardship, enhanced hygiene during slaughter and processing, and strengthened One Health surveillance strategies.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an escalating health crisis, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where limited healthcare infrastruc

Background: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBL-KP) and Escherichia coli (ESBL-EC) present a high burden in both communities and healthcare sectors, leading to difficult-to-treat infections. Data on intestinal carriage of ESBL-KP and ESBL-EC in children is scarce, especially in sub-Saharan African countries. We provide data on faecal carriage, phenotypic resistance patterns, and gene variation of ESBL-EC and ESBL-KP among children in the Agogo region of Ghana. Methods: From July to December 2019, fresh stool samples were collected within 24 h from children < 5 years with and without diarrhoea attending the study hospital. The samples were screened for ESBL-EC and ESBL-KP on ESBL agar and confirmed using double-disk synergy testing. Bacterial identification and an antibiotic susceptibility profile were performed using the Vitek 2 compact system (bioMérieux, Inc.). ESBL genes, blaSHV, blaCTX-M, and blaTEM were identified by PCR and further sequencing. Results: Of the 435 children recruited, stool carriage of ESBL-EC and ESBL-KP was 40.9% (n/N = 178/435) with no significant difference in prevalence between children with diarrhoea and non-diarrhoea. No association between ESBL carriage and the age of the children was found. All isolates were resistant to ampicillin and susceptible to meropenem and imipenem. Both ESBL-EC and ESBL-KP isolates showed over 70% resistance to tetracycline and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. Multidrug resistance was observed in over 70% in both ESBL-EC and ESBL-KP isolates. The blaCTX-M-15 was the most prevalent ESBL gene detected. blaCTX-M-27, blaCTX-M-14, and blaCTX-M-14b were found in non-diarrhoea stools of children, whereas blaCTX-M-28 was found in both the diarrhoea and non-diarrhoea patient groups. Conclusions: The carriage of ESBL-EC and ESBL-KP among children with and without diarrhoea in the Agogo community with a high prevalence of blaCTX-M-15 is noteworthy, highlighting the importance of both the population as a possible reservoir. This study reports for the first time the ESBL gene blaCTX-M-28 among the studied populations in Ghana.

Poultry has been suggested as an important source for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria that can lead to difficult-to treat infections in humans. Therefore, this study aims to determine the frequency, the genetics, and antimicrobial resistance profiles of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli in domestic free-range poultry in Agogo, Ghana. The study was set up and piloted from January 2019 until June 2019. Between June and December 2019, fecal samples ( N = 144) were collected from free-roaming chickens from domestic farms in the regions of Sukuumu, Bontodiase, and Freetown and cultured on ESBL screening agar. Strain identification and antibiotic susceptibility were performed using the VITEK 2 compact system. ESBL-producing E. coli were confirmed using the double disk synergy test. Molecular characterization of ESBL-associated genes ( bla _TEM , bla _SHV , and bla _CTX-M ) were performed using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and further sequencing of obtained PCR amplicons. The result showed that 56.2% ( n / N = 81/144) of collected fecal samples were positive for ESBL-producing E. coli . Majority of the isolates showed resistance to tetracycline (93.8%, n / N = 76/81) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (66.7, n / N = 54/81), whereas resistance to carbapenems was not found. The majority of ESBL-producing E. coli carried the bla _CTX-M genes, with bla _CTX-M-15 being the dominant (95.1%, n / N = 77/81) genotype. In this study, we report high frequencies of ESBL-producing E. coli in smallholder free-range poultry representing a potential source of infection, highlighting the need for control of antibiotic use and animal hygiene/sanitation measures, both important from a One Health perspective.