High Antibiotic Resistance found among elderly in care homes – Study

A recent study conducted by the CSIR-Water Research Institute's Biomedical and Public Health Unit has revealed a concerning high level of antibiotic resistance among elderly residents in care homes in Accra, Ghana. The research focused on selected elderly care homes, including Benval Home Care, Comfort for the Aged Care, and Tabitha Home Care.

The study, which examined urine samples from individuals aged 55 and above, found that 34.75% of the samples contained E. coli, a bacterium commonly responsible for urinary tract infections (UTIs). Notably, 65.9% of E. coli samples showed resistance to cefepime, a commonly used antibiotic. Additionally, 56.1% of the samples exhibited resistance to cefuroxime, while nitrofurantoin and aztreonam showed resistance in 51.2% of the cases.

Furthermore, the study discovered high resistance to fluconazole, a crucial antifungal medication, among Candida tropicalis and Candida albicans infections, which were found in 21% of the samples. These findings emphasize the urgent need for care-home managers to stop administering antibiotics without proper diagnosis and to determine the most suitable treatment.

The research also highlights the importance of regular monitoring of antibiotic resistance to ensure effective treatment for elderly individuals and calls for improved hand hygiene among caregivers to prevent the spread of infections. The study's authors recommend strengthening research and surveillance on antibiotic resistance in elderly care homes to prevent the growing problem of drug-resistant infections.