{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,14]],"date-time":"2026-01-14T10:11:23Z","timestamp":1768385483667,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":35,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,12]],"date-time":"2026-01-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1768176000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"TDR","award":["TDR.HQTDR 2422924-4.1-72863"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["TDR.HQTDR 2422924-4.1-72863"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Life"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) can disseminate through effluents from seafood processing facilities (SPFs), posing environmental and public health risks. This study assessed changes in coliform load and antimicrobial resistance patterns in effluents from two SPFs in Tema, Ghana, before and after upgrades to effluent treatment systems between 2022 and 2024. A total of 19 effluent samples were collected per SPF in 2021\u20132022, 20 effluent samples each per SPF in 2024, and 8 potable water samples each per SPF in 2024. Median coliform counts declined significantly in both facilities (SPF-1: 920 to 35 MPN\/100 mL; SPF-2: 280 to 9.5 MPN\/100 mL; p &lt; 0.001), representing a 96% overall reduction. Escherichia coli prevalence decreased markedly in SPF-2, although Pseudomonas aeruginosa emerged after treatment upgrades. Resistance to third-generation cephalosporins and multidrug resistance declined, particularly in SPF-1, but persisted across both facilities. Potable water used for seafood processing showed low but detectable coliform contamination. Despite substantial reductions in coliform bacterial load, the continued presence of resistant gram-negative bacteria highlights the need for sustained AMR surveillance, mandatory effective effluent treatment, and routine disinfection of potable water to protect public health.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/life16010107","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,12]],"date-time":"2026-01-12T09:13:01Z","timestamp":1768209181000},"page":"107","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Coliform Load and Antimicrobial Resistance in Ghana\u2019s Seafood Processing Effluent (2021\u20132024): Evidence of Operational Improvement and Persistent AMR Risk"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0000-3777-8826","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ebenezer Worlanyo","family":"Wallace-Dickson","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Environmental Protection Authority, Starlets \u201991 Road, Ministries, Accra P.O. Box MB 326, Ghana"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0362-6397","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Meldon Ansah-koi","family":"Agyarkwa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Environmental Protection Authority, Starlets \u201991 Road, Ministries, Accra P.O. Box MB 326, Ghana"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5156-2765","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nana Ama Browne","family":"Klutse","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Environmental Protection Authority, Starlets \u201991 Road, Ministries, Accra P.O. Box MB 326, Ghana"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Esi Nana","family":"Nerquaye-Tetteh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Environmental Protection Authority, Starlets \u201991 Road, Ministries, Accra P.O. Box MB 326, Ghana"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-7353-2854","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Abdalla","family":"Abubakari","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Environmental Protection Authority, Starlets \u201991 Road, Ministries, Accra P.O. Box MB 326, Ghana"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Selina","family":"Amoah","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Environmental Protection Authority, Starlets \u201991 Road, Ministries, Accra P.O. Box MB 326, Ghana"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Jewel","family":"Kudjawu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Environmental Protection Authority, Starlets \u201991 Road, Ministries, Accra P.O. Box MB 326, Ghana"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0941-554X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Godfred Saviour","family":"Azaglo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Environmental Protection Authority, Starlets \u201991 Road, Ministries, Accra P.O. Box MB 326, Ghana"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Mariam Fuowie","family":"Batong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Environmental Protection Authority, Starlets \u201991 Road, Ministries, Accra P.O. Box MB 326, Ghana"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Johnson","family":"Ade","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Environmental Protection Authority, Starlets \u201991 Road, Ministries, Accra P.O. Box MB 326, Ghana"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0004-3712-0193","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Isaac Junior","family":"Okyere","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Chemistry, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2216-7237","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mary-Magdalene","family":"Osei","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra P.O. Box GP 4236, Ghana"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6569-7174","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Karyn Ewurama","family":"Quansah","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Water Research Institute (CSIR-WRI), Achimota, Accra P.O. Box AH 38, Ghana"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5113-4269","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Emmanuel Martin","family":"Obeng Bekoe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Water Research Institute (CSIR-WRI), Achimota, Accra P.O. Box AH 38, Ghana"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3147-5143","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"George Kwesi","family":"Hedidor","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"World Health Organization Country Office, Roman Ridge, Accra P.O. Box MB 142, Ghana"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5497-2858","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Divya","family":"Nair","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Independent Researcher, Scottsdale, AZ 85259, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3849-7705","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Robert Fraser","family":"Terry","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"World Health Organization Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3928-2116","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Japheth A.","family":"Opintan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra P.O. Box GP 4236, Ghana"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,12]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"147","DOI":"10.1080\/14787210.2021.1951705","article-title":"Antimicrobial Resistance in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Current Status and Future Directions","volume":"20","author":"Sulis","year":"2022","journal-title":"Expert Rev. Anti Infect. Ther."},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"(2025, July 24). One Health. Available online: https:\/\/www.who.int\/health-topics\/one-health."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Matar, G.M., Andremont, A., and Bazzi, W. (2020). Editorial: Combating Antimicrobial Resistance\u2014A One Health Approach. Front. Cell. Infect. 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