Bacteriological profile of community peritonitis operated in a Moroccan Hospital

Samia Bazhar1,2, Elmostafa Benaissa1,2, Fatima Ziad1,2

  • 1Department of Clinical Bacteriology, Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat, Morocco.

Access Microbiology
|October 25, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Community-acquired peritonitis in Morocco shows high resistance of Escherichia coli to ampicillin. This highlights the urgent need to reassess empiric antibiotic choices for effective treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Clinical Pharmacy

Background:

  • Peritonitis, an acute inflammation of the peritoneum, often stems from digestive organ perforation or intra-abdominal sepsis.
  • Bacterial peritonitis commonly involves digestive flora like Enterobacteriaceae and anaerobes, with Gram-positive cocci and yeasts seen in nosocomial infections.
  • Understanding the local bacteriology is crucial for effective antibiotic therapy in community-acquired peritonitis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To isolate and identify the specific microorganisms causing community-acquired peritonitis in Rabat, Morocco.
  • To evaluate the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of these isolated pathogens.
  • To inform and adapt empirical antibiotic treatment strategies based on local bacterial ecology and resistance trends.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective study analyzing the bacteriological profile of 150 adult patients with community peritonitis.
  • Intraoperative samples were collected for bacteriological examination over a 10-month period (July 2022 - April 2023).
  • Data on patient demographics and isolated bacterial species, along with their antibiotic resistance profiles, were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Escherichia coli was the predominant bacterium, isolated in 44% of cases.
  • A significant finding was the 70% resistance rate of E. coli to ampicillin.
  • Enterococcus species, in contrast, showed no ampicillin resistance in this study cohort.

Conclusions:

  • The study reveals a concerning increase in resistance among E. coli to commonly prescribed antibiotics like amoxicillin/clavulanic acid.
  • There is a critical need to re-evaluate and potentially revise the empirical antibiotic regimens for community-acquired peritonitis in this region.
  • Local antibiotic susceptibility data are essential for optimizing treatment outcomes and combating antimicrobial resistance.