Bacteriological Profile of Suppurative Infections at the University Departmental Hospital of Borgou/Alibori in Benin

Purulent infections are common and can be caused by a variety of microorganisms. The present study focuses on 216 purulent samples and aims to determine their bacteriological profile at the Clinical Biology Department of the Borgou and Alibori Departmental Hospital. Isolation and identification of microorganisms and antibiotic susceptibility testing were performed using standard microbiological techniques. Sixty-one of the 100 participants (61%) were male. Participants ranged in age from 8 months to 76 years. The most common age group was between 50 and 60 years (22.70%). The prevalence of purulent infection in the study population was 43.52%, with a predominance of monomicrobial cultures (79%). Cytobacteriological examination of the pus showed that of 114 strains isolated responsible for purulent infection, 53 (46.50%) were gram-negative bacteria compared with 61 (53.50%) gram-positive. The most frequently isolated species were: Staphylococcus aureus (47.37%), Escherichia coli (14.04%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (7%). Analysis of the antibiogram results for the isolated strains revealed isolates resistant to the main antibiotic families. Multi-resistant strains such as MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and ESBL (Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase) producing strains were identified. Antibiotic resistance is a real public health problem that can lead to the death of infected patients due to the lack of appropriate drugs for better management, hence the importance of controlling and rationalising medical prescribing in the event of infection.