title: Susceptibility Profiles ofMycobacterium ulceransIsolates to Streptomycin and Rifampicin in Two Districts of the Eastern Region of Ghana.
abstract: Background. Drug resistance is a major challenge in antibiotic chemotherapy. Assessing resistance profiles of pathogens constitutes an essential surveillance tool in the epidemiology and control of infectious diseases, including Buruli ulcer (BU) disease. With the successful definitive management of BU using rifampicin and streptomycin, little attention had been paid to monitoring emergence of resistantMycobacterium ulcerans (M. ulcerans)isolates in endemic communities. This study investigated the susceptibility profiles ofM. ulceransisolates from two BU endemic areas in Ghana to streptomycin and rifampicin.Methods. The antibiotic susceptibility of seventy (70)M. ulceransisolates to rifampicin and streptomycin was determined simultaneously at critical concentrations of 40µg/mL and 4µg/mL, respectively, by the Canetti proportion method.Results. Resistance to rifampicin was observed for 12 (17.1%)M. ulceransisolates tested, whilst 2 (2.9%) showed resistance to streptomycin. None of the isolates tested showed dual resistance to both rifampicin and streptomycin.Conclusion. Outcomes from this study may not be reflective of all BU endemic communities; it, however, provides information on the resistance status of the isolates, which is useful for monitoring ofM. ulcerans, as well as BU disease surveillance and control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Enid
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1100-5379
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Owusu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Mercy Jemima
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.affiliation: Paakro Health Centre, Ghana Health Service, Paakro, Ghana.
authors.forename: Nana Konama
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Kotey
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Amos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akumwena
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bannerman