TITLE:
High Burden of Antimicrobial Resistance among Major Bacterial Pathogens in Bangui, Central African Republic: A Study Based on Data from a National Laboratory, 2013-2019
AUTHORS:
Clotaire Donatien Rafaï, Gilles Stephane Landry Ngaya, Ernest Lango-Yaya, Bejendo Laris Michaël Dan-Houron, Oscar Senzongo, Alain Farra, Boniface Koffi
KEYWORDS:
Resistance, Antibiotic, LNBCSP, Central African Republic
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Tuberculosis Research,
Vol.14 No.2,
April
29,
2026
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is now one of the major threats to global public health, with a particularly significant impact in resource-limited countries. The availability of reliable local data is essential to guide treatment and surveillance policies. The objective of this study was to describe the bacteriological and antibiotic resistance profiles observed at the National Laboratory of Clinical Biology and Public Health (LNBCSP) in Bangui. Patients and Methods: This is a descriptive study based on the analysis of aggregated microbiological data from the LNBCSP's routine tables covering the period 2013–2019. The results were analyzed in terms of the distribution of bacterial species and overall antibiotic susceptibility and resistance profiles. Results: A total of 3,020 bacterial isolates were analyzed. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently isolated species, followed by Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. High levels of resistance were observed for several commonly used antibiotics, including cotrimoxazole, penicillins, and fluoroquinolones. Conclusion: The results indicate a high burden of antimicrobial resistance in Bangui and highlight the urgent need to strengthen microbiological surveillance and the proper use of antibiotics.