Microbial Carriage and Antibiotic Resistance Profile of Bacteria in Cockroaches in Public Places And Households in Ashanti Mampong, Ghana.

Abstract

Cockroaches are common pests in human environments and important carriers of pathogenic microorganisms. This cross-sectional study was conducted to examine the microbial carriage and antibiotic resistance profiles of bacteria isolated from cockroaches collected from hospitals, eateries, and households in the Ashanti Mampong Municipality, Ghana. A total of 358 cockroaches were collected and examined for parasite and bacterial carriage, as well as antimicrobial resistance patterns of the bacteria isolated. The results showed that 242 (67.6%) of the cockroaches carried at least one parasite, with Ascaris being the most prevalent, found in 199 (55.6%) of the cockroaches, and Toxoascaris in 172 (48.0%) of the cockroaches. Co-carriage were common, with 66 (18.4%) carrying two parasites and 28 (7.8%) carrying three or more. Bacterial prevalence was also high, with 217 (74.6%) of samples testing positive. Salmonella 214 (73.5%) and Enterococcus 201 (69.1%) were the most frequently isolated, while E. coli 68 (23.4%) and Proteus 58 (19.9%) were relatively less common. Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed high resistance to chloramphenicol, ampicillin, and clindamycin, ranging between 55% and 75%. Moderate resistance was observed for erythromycin and amoxicillin-clavulanate (45–67%), while ciprofloxacin and azithromycin showed the lowest resistance levels (below 27% and 11%, respectively). Klebsiella and Salmonella were the most resistant bacteria, while Proteus and Shigella exhibited moderate resistance. The findings confirm that cockroaches act as reservoirs and vectors of medically important and antibiotic-resistant microorganisms in different environments. This poses a significant threat to both community- and hospital-acquired infections. Effective cockroach control and improved sanitation practices are crucial for reducing the spread of resistant pathogens in both public and domestic settings.