The aim of our study was to determine the frequency of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) phenotypes among the enterobacteria present in blood cultures of patients at admission to two university hospitals of Bamako (Mali). During a period of three months, we isolated enterobacteria from blood cultures from patients upon admission to the Point G and Gabriel Toure University Hospitals. The ESBL-positive enterobacteria were initially identified by API 20E strips and VITEK®2 and then confirmed in France by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry at the Bichat Hospital bacteriology laboratory. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined by the diffusion method as recommended by EUCAST. The species isolated were K. pneumoniae (14/40, 35.0 %), E. coli (11/40, 27.5 %), and E. cloacae (9/40, 22.5 %); 21/34 (61.8 %) had an ESBL phenotype, including 10/14 (71.4 %) K. pneumoniae, 8/11 (72.7 %) E. coli, and 3/9 (33 3 %), E. cloacae. The ESBL strains of K. pneumoniae, E. coli, and E. cloacae were associated, respectively, with resistance to the following antibiotics: gentamicin (10/10, 100 %; 6/8, 75%; 2/3, 67%), amikacin (2/10, 20 %; 0/8, 0%; 0/3, 0%), ofloxacin (8/10, 80. %; 7/8, 87%; 3/3, 100%), cotrimoxazole (10/10, 100 %; 6/8, 75%; 3/3, 100%). Almost two thirds (61.8%) of the enterobacteria isolated from blood cultures produced extended-spectrum beta-lactamases. They retained regular sensitivity only to carbapenems and amikacin.
Keywords: Bamako; Mali; blood cultures; enterobacteria; extended-spectrum beta lactamases.