Automated blood culture systems for isolation of bacterial pathogens of bloodstream infection: The experience of Bobo-Dioulasso Teaching Hospital, Burkina Faso

Abstract

Background: Identification of the causative agent is an essential requirement for better treatment of bloodstream infection. The  BacT/Alert 3D (BioMérieux, Marcy l’Étoile, France), is a blood culture system equipped with CO₂ sensors to monitor the growth of  microorganisms in blood culture bottles designed to optimize bacterial growth. The aim of this study was to determine the performance  of this equipment in detecting bacterial pathogens from patients with bloodstream infection in the context of low-and-middle-income  countries (LMICs), with Bobo-Dioulasso Teaching Hospital as a case study.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of 5 months at the Sourô Sanou University Hospital, Bobo-Dioulasso,  Burkina Faso, a low-income country. Blood samples from a total of 231 patients with clinical suspicion of bloodstream infections were  collected and processed according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Results: Sixty-nine of the 231 blood culture samples of patients were positive, giving a bacteriological yield of 29.9%. Escherichia coli,  Salmonella spp, and Staphylococcus aureus were the top three bacterial species isolated.

Conclusion: The implementation of the  BacT/Alert 3D system has significantly enhanced the diagnosis of bacteraemia in the Bobo-Dioulasso Teaching Hospital. This  enhancement is marked by time savings in patient care, reduced staff workload, and an increased bacteriological yield over time.