What Is in the Salad? Escherichia coli and Antibiotic Resistance in Lettuce Irrigated with Various Water Sources in Ghana

Gerard Quarcoo (), Lady A. Boamah Adomako, Arpine Abrahamyan, Samuel Armoo, Augustina A. Sylverken, Matthew Glover Addo, Sevak Alaverdyan, Nasreen S. Jessani, Anthony D. Harries, Hawa Ahmed, Regina A. Banu, Selorm Borbor, Mark O. Akrong, Nana A. Amonoo, Emmanuel M. O. Bekoe, Mike Y. Osei-Atweneboana and Rony Zachariah
Additional contact information
Gerard Quarcoo: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Water Research Institute, Achimota P.O. Box AH 38, Ghana
Lady A. Boamah Adomako: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Water Research Institute, Achimota P.O. Box AH 38, Ghana
Arpine Abrahamyan: Tuberculosis Research and Prevention Center, Yerevan 0014, Armenia
Samuel Armoo: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Water Research Institute, Achimota P.O. Box AH 38, Ghana
Augustina A. Sylverken: Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Private Mail Bag, University Post Office, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana
Matthew Glover Addo: Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Private Mail Bag, University Post Office, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana
Sevak Alaverdyan: Tuberculosis Research and Prevention Center, Yerevan 0014, Armenia
Nasreen S. Jessani: Centre for Evidence-Based Health Care, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa
Anthony D. Harries: International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 75001 Paris, France
Hawa Ahmed: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Water Research Institute, Achimota P.O. Box AH 38, Ghana
Regina A. Banu: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Water Research Institute, Achimota P.O. Box AH 38, Ghana
Selorm Borbor: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Water Research Institute, Achimota P.O. Box AH 38, Ghana
Mark O. Akrong: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Water Research Institute, Achimota P.O. Box AH 38, Ghana
Nana A. Amonoo: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Water Research Institute, Achimota P.O. Box AH 38, Ghana
Emmanuel M. O. Bekoe: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Water Research Institute, Achimota P.O. Box AH 38, Ghana
Mike Y. Osei-Atweneboana: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Water Research Institute, Achimota P.O. Box AH 38, Ghana
Rony Zachariah: United Nations Children Fund, United Nations Development Programme, World Bank, World Health Organization, Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) WHO, 20, Avenue Appia, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 19, 1-12

Abstract: Introduction: Safety of the environment in which vegetables are grown, marketed and consumed is paramount as most are eaten raw. Irrigation sources include open drains and streams, which are often contaminated with human and animal waste due to poor sanitation infrastructure. In irrigated vegetable farms using such sources in Ghana, we assessed Escherichia coli counts, antibiotic resistance patterns and resistant genes on irrigated lettuce. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between January–May 2022, involving five major vegetable farms in Ghana. Results: Escherichia coli was found in all 25 composite lettuce samples analyzed. Counts expressed in CFU/g ranged from 186 to 3000, with the highest counts found in lettuce irrigated from open drains (1670) and tap water using hose pipes (3000). Among all bacterial isolates, resistance ranged between 49% and 70% for the Watch group of antibiotics, 59% for the Reserved group and 82% were multidrug-resistant. Of 125 isolates, 60 (48%) were extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing, of which five (8%) had the bla TEM -resistant gene. Conclusions: Lettuce was contaminated with Escherichia coli with high levels of antibiotic resistance. We call on the Ghana Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Food and Drugs Authority and other stakeholders to support farmers to implement measures for improving vegetable safety.

Keywords: antimicrobial resistance; resistant genes; Escherichia coli; lettuce; extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL); one health; SORT IT; operational research; Ghana; West Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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