article · Alexandria Journal of Medicine
A cross-sectional investigation evaluated post-operative patients across tertiary hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to identify bacteria causing surgical site infections and assess their susceptibility to antibiotics. Out of 158 enrolled patients, 140 yielded positive cultures, producing 164 bacterial isolates. Gram-negative bacteria formed the majority of these pathogens. The most common organisms detected were Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. Testing revealed extensive resistance patterns among the isolates. Nearly half of the Enterobacterales produced extended-spectrum beta-lactamases, and over a quarter of the Staphylococcus aureus isolates were methicillin-resistant strains. In total, 77.4 percent of all isolated bacteria were classified as multi-drug resistant. These findings indicate a critical requirement to update surgical antibiotic prophylaxis practices, revise treatment guidelines, and reinforce infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship programmes.
Surgical site infections caused by resistant bacteria pose severe challenges for patient recovery and hospital care. With over three-quarters of the detected bacteria displaying multi-drug resistance, standard antibiotic treatments may fail. Documenting local resistance patterns is vital for healthcare facilities to select effective medications, design targeted preventive protocols, and curb the spread of hard-to-treat infections in hospital wards.
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Background Surgical site infections (SSI) are common healthcare-associated infections, yet data on causative bacteria and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns are limited. The study aimed to determine the bacterial pathogens and antimicrobial resistance patterns among post-operative patients at tertiary hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study between September 2022 and February 2023 to investigate SSI through an aerobic culture of pus aspirates or wound swabs. Isolates were identified using conventional methods and an analytical profile index 20E test for Enterobacterales. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using Kirby Bauer disc diffusion methods. Continuous variables were summarized as mean and standard deviation, while categorical variables were summarized as proportions.Results A hundred-fifty-eight patients were enrolled, with a mean age of 42.20 ± 12.13 years. Of 158,140(88.6%) showed bacterial growth and 164 isolates. Escherichia coli 45 (27.4%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 38 (23.2%), and Staphylococcus aureus 38 (23.2%) were the most isolated. Among the Enterobacterales, 39/80 (48.8%) were extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producers. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was detected in 11/38 (29.0%) Staphylococcus aureus. Overall, multi-drug resistant strains were 127/164 (77.4%).Conclusions Gram-negative bacteria were the predominant cause of SSI. More than three-quarters of isolates were multi-drug-resistant strains. The findings underscore the need to regularly review antimicrobial prophylaxis practices and treatment guidelines, strengthen infection prevention and control measures, and antimicrobial stewardship.
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DOI: 10.1080/20905068.2025.2466271
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