Microbial Organisms in the Lower Respiratory Tract Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Cross-Sectional Study in Northern Ghana
Oliver Nangkuu Deberu,
Godfred Acheampong,
Bernard Nkrumah,
Nana Kwame Ayisi-Boateng,
Stephen Opoku Afriyie,
Francis Opoku Agyapong,
Dorcas Ohui Owusu,
Mohamed Mutocheluh,
Abass Abdul-Karim,
Philip El-Duah,
Augustina Angelina Sylverken,
Michael Owusu
Affiliations
Oliver Nangkuu Deberu
Department of Clinical Microbiology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University Post Office, Private Mail Bag, Kumasi 00233, Ghana
Godfred Acheampong
Centre for Health System Strengthening, AK-193-4653, P.O. Box 11777, Kumasi 00233, Ghana
Bernard Nkrumah
African Field Epidemiology Network, JQQQ+52M, Aggrey Street, Accra GA184, Ghana
Nana Kwame Ayisi-Boateng
Department of Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University Post Office, Private Mail Bag, Kumasi 00233, Ghana
Stephen Opoku Afriyie
Centre for Health System Strengthening, AK-193-4653, P.O. Box 11777, Kumasi 00233, Ghana
Francis Opoku Agyapong
Department of Clinical Microbiology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University Post Office, Private Mail Bag, Kumasi 00233, Ghana
Dorcas Ohui Owusu
Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University Post Office, Private Mail Bag, Kumasi 00233, Ghana
Mohamed Mutocheluh
Department of Clinical Microbiology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University Post Office, Private Mail Bag, Kumasi 00233, Ghana
Abass Abdul-Karim
Tamale Public Health Reference Laboratory, Tamale 00233, Ghana
Philip El-Duah
Institute of Virology, Charite, University Medicine of Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Augustina Angelina Sylverken
Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University Post Office, Private Mail Bag, Kumasi 00233, Ghana
Michael Owusu
Centre for Health System Strengthening, AK-193-4653, P.O. Box 11777, Kumasi 00233, Ghana
Colonization of SARS-CoV-2 with specific bacteria may either protect or increase the risk of disease severity. This study aimed to identify microbial organisms in the lower respiratory tract and their association with SARS-CoV-2 infection. This was a cross-sectional study conducted between May 2020 and August 2021 at the Tamale Public Health Laboratory in the Northern part of Ghana. RT-PCRs for SARS-CoV-2 and bacteriological cultures were performed on sputum samples collected from suspected COVID-19 patients. Biochemical identification and antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed on the bacterial isolates. A total of 380 participants were recruited into the study. Most participants were within the 21–30 years age group (29.6%). RT-PCR testing detected SARS-CoV-2 in 118 (31.1%) patients. Headache was found to be associated with SARS-CoV-2 (p = 0.033). Sputum cultures yielded 187 (49.2%) positive bacteria growths. Klebsiella spp. (20.5%), Moraxella catarrhalis (7.9%), and Pseudomonas spp. (6.3%) were the most commonly isolated bacteria. M. catarrhalis, Serratia spp., and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia were significantly associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Most of the isolates were resistant to 3rd generation cephalosporins. This study has demonstrated the association between specific bacteria and SARS-CoV-2 infection. Clinicians should investigate possible bacterial co-infections in the management of COVID-19 cases.
