Study reveals high rate of uropathogens among Ghanaian elderly

A study conducted in care homes across the Greater Accra Region has uncovered a high incidence of drug-resistant urinary pathogens among elderly individuals in Ghana. The research, which spanned nearly three years and involved around 200 people aged 50 and above, revealed that the elderly population could serve as a significant reservoir of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), particularly for those with weakened immune systems.

Assistant Research Scientist at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Water Research Institute (CSIR-WRI), Mr Emmanuel Armah, presented these findings at the 2026 Mid-Year Review of the Institute in Accra. Mr Armah's study involved collecting early-morning urine samples from participants and screening them for urinary tract infections using microbial diagnostic tools.

Polymerase Chain Reaction was employed to analyze the genetic makeup of the uropathogens. The project, supported by the Foundation to Prevent Antibiotic Resistance (PAR), also highlighted issues surrounding the misuse of antibiotics, self-medication, personal hygiene, and nutrition. Armah urged care homes to refrain from routinely administering antibiotics without evidence-based microbiological testing and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST).

He emphasized the importance of caregivers maintaining proper hand hygiene to prevent infections. Armah stressed the need for raising awareness of antimicrobial resistance and mitigating its impact on the elderly through education and advocacy. Researchers stress that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a serious threat to healthcare, necessitating urgent action.