Prevalence, Diagnostic Accuracy, and Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of Uropathogens in Urinary Tract Infections at a Health Facility in Kumasi, Ghana.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most prevalent infections in both men and women. The most common causative organisms are Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., and Staphylococcus spp.

Malaria and helminths co-infection-Effects on anaemia, iron and folate deficiencies in paediatric population in Ghana.

Background: Helminthiasis co-exists with malaria in endemic areas; this co-existence can influence anaemia, iron, and folate levels in patients. This study was aimed at assessing the effect of malaria, helminthiasis, and co-infection on anaemia, iron, and folate deficiencies in children.

Methods: The study participants comprised of 1003 children, from whom venous blood and stool samples were obtained.

Diagnosis On-Demand: Field Evaluation of Microfluidic Paper Device for the Detection of Asymptomatic Malaria.

We report a proof-of-concept surveillance strategy that combines simplicity with modest cost to achieve high analytical performance for the detection of asymptomatic malaria infection. We developed a microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μPAD) that automates immunoassay using 30 μL of whole blood. A novel dendrimer-based signal transduction method was introduced to amplify the mass spectrometry (MS) signal.

The burden and diagnostic challenges of subclinical Plasmodium falciparum infections in Southern Ghana.

Background: Many national malaria elimination programmes (NMEP) are intensifying campaigns for malaria control and elimination. However, these efforts are constrained by the high prevalence of subclinical infections which may sustain local disease transmission. Detection and treatment of these subclinical and low-density infection is therefore crucial in monitoring progress towards malaria control and elimination.

Socio-demographic factors, housing characteristics, and clinical symptoms associated with falciparum malaria in two rapidly urbanizing areas in the Ashanti region of Ghana.

Background: Malaria has been described as a disease of poverty, affecting the poorest populations typically living in rural areas. As hitherto rural areas transition into semi-urban environments, this study investigated the prevalence of falciparum malaria and associated risk factors in two rapidly urbanizing districts in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.

Methods: A cross-sectional, hospital-based study was conducted at Agona and Mankranso Government Hospitals located within the Sekyere South and Ahafo Ano Southwest districts respectively, in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.

A digital microscope for the diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, including P. falciparum with hrp2/hrp3 deletion.

Sensitive and accurate malaria diagnosis is required for case management to accelerate control efforts. Diagnosis is particularly challenging where multiple Plasmodium species are endemic, and where P. falciparum hrp2/3 deletions are frequent.

Accuracy of diagnosis among clinical malaria patients: comparing microscopy, RDT and a highly sensitive quantitative PCR looking at the implications for submicroscopic infections.

Background: The World Health Organization recommends parasitological confirmation of all suspected malaria cases by microscopy or rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) before treatment. These conventional tools are widely used for point-of-care diagnosis in spite of their poor sensitivity at low parasite density. Previous studies in Ghana have compared microscopy and RDT using standard 18S rRNA PCR as reference with varying outcomes.

High-throughput and gene deletion typing by digital PCR to monitor malaria rapid diagnostic test efficacy.

Most rapid diagnostic tests for malaria target the Histidine-Rich Proteins 2 and 3 (HRP2 and HRP3). Deletions of the and genes result in false-negative tests and are a threat for malaria control. A novel assay for molecular surveillance of / deletions was developed based on droplet digital PCR (ddPCR).

Seroprevalence, risk factors and impact of infection on haematological parameters in the Ashanti region of Ghana: a cross-sectional study.

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate, intracellular, apicomplexan parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. Although the global prevalence of toxoplasmosis has been estimated to be approximately 30%, there is limited seroprevalence data in Ghana, with a dearth of information on the impact of T. gondii on haematological parameters in exposed persons.

Impact of malaria on haematological parameters of urban, peri-urban and rural residents in the Ashanti region of Ghana: a cross-sectional study.

We aimed at investigating the impact of malaria on the haematological parameters of residents from different demographic settlements in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Malaria parasites trigger changes in certain haematological parameters, which may result in a number of clinical manifestations. Differences in demographic settlements, such as rural, peri-urban and urban settlements may also influence these changes, but this has not been extensively studied in Ghana.