Antibiotic resistance of Salmonella spp strains isolated from blood cultures in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Typhoid fever is a major public health problem in developing countries because of the obsolescence of health infrastructure and of an almost non-existent water distribution network. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in general, and in Bukavu, in particular, blood culture is inaccessible to the majority of patients. This study aimed to assess the sensitivity of Salmonella spp to antibiotics commonly used for the tratment of typhoid fever in Bukavu. We conducted a cross-sectional study over a period of 6 months. Any subject suspected of having typhoid fever was included in the study. Blood culture was systematically performed in any selected patient. The identification of bacterial strain and antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed using conventional methods. The following antibiotics were tested: amikacin, Aamoxicillin, augmentin, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, cefuroxime, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, cotrimoxazole, doxycycline, gentamicin, negram, norfloxacin. Our study included 460 sick subjects; blood cultures were positive in 144 (31.30%) patients. Salmonella spp was the most isolated germ (41.66%). In Bukavu, isolated Salmonella spp strains were sensitive to ciprofloxacin (91.7%), ceftazidime (81.7%), ceftriaxone (80%), norfloxacin (80%), amikacin (76.6%) and cefuroxime (73.3%). They remained resistant to other antibiotic molecules. These results show a decreased sensitivity to most of the antibiotics. Antibiotic susceptibility test is necessary in patients with typhoid fever for improved patient management.