Profile of Patients Hospitalized in a Tertiary Infectious and Tropical Diseases Department in Senegal

Abstract

Background: Infectious diseases remain a major contributor to hospital morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa despite progress in HIV, tuberculosis and malaria control. Contemporary hospital-based data are needed to guide referral pathways, clinical governance, antimicrobial stewardship and resource allocation. Aim: This study aimed to describe the morbidity and mortality profile of patients admitted to the Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases (SMIT) of Fann National University Hospital in Dakar, Senegal. Methods: We conducted a retrospective descriptive study that included patients hospitalised from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2024. Sociodemographic, clinical, laboratory, microbiological, therapeutic and outcome data were extracted from standardised medical records. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: Among 1,018 admissions, 1,002 complete records were included, corresponding to approximately 42 admissions per month. The median age was 42 years (interquartile range: 27–57), and 594 patients (59.3%) were male. At least one comorbidity was recorded in 48.2% of patients, mainly HIV infection (20.5%), hypertension (10.1%) and diabetes mellitus (8.1%). Fever (73.2%) and altered general condition (70.0%) were the most frequent clinical features. Tuberculosis was the leading diagnosis (25.75%), followed by tetanus (10.88%), neuromeningeal infections (7.98%) and HIV-related opportunistic infections (7.39%). The main bacterial isolates were Escherichia coli (18.3%), Staphylococcus aureus (16.0%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (15.3%). Antibiotics were administered to 70.1% of patients. Hypoxia, neurological failure and septic shock were the main complications. Overall, 209 deaths were recorded, corresponding to an in-hospital mortality rate of 20.9%. Conclusion: The burden of severe infectious diseases remains substantial in this tertiary referral department, with frequent comorbidity, bacterial infections, organ dysfunction and high mortality. Strengthening early referral, systematic admission assessment, microbiological diagnostics and antimicrobial stewardship should be priorities.