Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance in Guinea

Abstract

Introduction: The Republic of Guinea has a multisectoral action plan for the surveillance and control of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The objective of this study was to describe the current status of AMR surveillance in the country. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study based on data collected from AMR sentinel surveillance laboratories during the first half of 2024. The national surveillance network is composed of 13 laboratories. Bacterial identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were performed using conventional methods and the automated VITEK® 2 Compact system. Results: During the study period, 8,355 samples were analyzed, and 2,832 bacterial isolates were identified by Gram staining. A total of 1,197 antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed. Most samples originated from the regional hospital laboratories of N’zérékoré (1,603) and Kankan (1,343), as well as from the national hospitals Donka (1,434) and Ignace Deen (1,154) in Conakry. Urine samples accounted for the majority of biological specimens analyzed (77%), while blood samples represented only 1%. The main bacterial strains isolated were Escherichia coli (54%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (27%), and Staphylococcus aureus (14%). Acquired resistance of these isolates to the tested antibiotics was 96% for penicillin, 24% for ceftriaxone, 14% for imipenem, 40% for meropenem, and 7% for ertapenem. Conclusion: Strengthening AMR surveillance in Guinea requires increasing the number of sentinel sites, improving the skills of stakeholders, securing sustainable funding, and raising awareness among prescribers and the general population to promote the rational use of antibiotics.