Epidemiology and Sensitivity to Antibiotics of Germs Isolated from Blood Cultures in the Laboratory of the National Hospital Center of Nouakchott-Mauritania

This study aims to examine the results of blood cultures carried out at the National Hospital Center (CHN) of Nouakchott over a 26-month period (2021-2023). The primary objective was to determine the positivity rate and distribution of bacterial isolates. Additionally, this retrospective analysis aimed to evaluate antibiotic resistance patterns among the identified microorganisms to guide clinical decision-making and improve therapeutic strategies. A total of 212 blood cultures were analyzed, of which 45 (21.22%) were positive. Among these, 71.12% were Gram-positive bacteria, while 26.67% were Gramnegative. The majority of affected patients were male (57%), with a sex ratio of 1.3, and pediatric cases were significantly represented. Automated blood culture systems (BACT/ALERT®) and identification by VITEK-2 facilitated pathogen detection. Antibiotic resistance was a major concern, with 44.44% of Staphylococcus aureus strains resistant to penicillin M, while Klebsiella pneumoniae exhibited multidrug resistance, including extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production. A notable case of candidemia was observed in a premature neonate, who presented persistent fever and sepsis unresponsive to antibiotics. Early identification of Candida spp. led to antifungal therapy with fluconazole, resulting in clinical improvement. This highlights the importance of considering fungal infections in high-risk patients. These findings emphasize the critical role of continuous surveillance of bacterial resistance patterns in optimizing empirical antibiotic therapy and infection control strategies. Strengthening antimicrobial stewardship programs and laboratory diagnostic capabilities is essential to improving patient outcomes and limiting the spread of multidrug-resistant organisms.