Incidence and Bacteriological Profile of Surgical Site Infections at Ouakam Military Hospital, Senegal

Introduction: Surgical site infection (SSI) is the 3rd most common healthcare-associated infection. In sub-Saharan Africa, treatment is often probabilistic. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of this type of infection at the Ouakam Military Hospital and to determine the antibiotic resistance profile of the bacteria isolated.

Methodology: A prospective, analytical and descriptive study was carried out over 2 years in the medical analysis laboratory department and the surgical departments operating in the same operating theatre. Identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing of isolated bacteria were performed using the VITEK® 2 COMPACT (BioMérieux) automated system, and statistical analysis was performed using Epi info software (version 7.2.6.0).

Results: The incidence of SSIs was 4.6%. A total of 129 bacterial strains were isolated, including 41.1% Staphylococcus aureus, 24.0% Escherichia coli and 12.4% Pseudomonas aeruginosa. 26.4% of the S. aureus strains were resistant to methicillin and none were resistant to vancomycin. Production of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase was noted in 41.9% of E. coli strains, 50.0% of Klebsiella pneumoniae strains and 100.0% of Enterobacter cloacae strains. Only these three bacteria developed carbapénèmases at rates of 3.2%, 10.0% and 66.7% respectively. The rate of P. aeruginosa strains resistant to ceftazidime was 37.5%.

Conclusion: The incidence of SSI is relatively low. However, the alarming rates of resistance suggest rigorous monitoring of antibiotic resistance.