Bacteriological Profile of Positive Cultures from the Distal Ends of Non-Tunneled Central Venous Catheters at a Hemodialysis Center in Conakry

Introduction: The objective was to determine the prevalence of positive cultures from the distal ends of non-tunneled central venous catheters and to identify the causative pathogens. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective, descriptive study conducted over a 12-month period, during which we included all hemodialysis patients who had had a central venous catheter in place for at least 48 hours and who had undergone a bacterial culture of the distal end of the catheter. Results: Of the 87 catheter tips analyzed, 48 yielded a positive bacterial culture, representing a prevalence of 55%; these included 30 men and 18 women with a mean age of 36 years. Staphylococcus aureus (25%) was the predominant organism, followed by Staphylococcus epidermidis (19%), with a statistically significant association between redness (p = 0.01), fever (p < 0.001), chills (p = 0.001), the presence of pus (p = 0.001), and the occurrence of central venous catheter infections. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae ssp. were the strains producing extended-spectrum β-lactamases encountered in our setting. Conclusion: Positive cultures from the distal ends of central venous catheters in hemodialysis patients were predominantly caused by Staphylococcus aureus, underscoring the importance of adhering to preventive measures and rigorous clinical monitoring of patients with catheters.