Characterization of Bacterial Strains Involved in Suppurative Wound Infections and Their Antibiotic Resistance Profiles in Southern Benin

Background Wound infections represent a significant clinical burden in healthcare settings, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to characterize the bacteriological profile and antibiotic resistance patterns of pathogens isolated from wound suppurations in hospitals in southern Benin. Methods A total of 384 wound swab samples were collected from hospitalized patients in multiple hospitals across southern Benin presenting with clinical signs of suppuration. Bacteriological identification was performed using VITEK automated system. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was conducted via the Kirby-Bauer method. Molecular detection of resistance and virulence genes was performed by PCR. Results Of the 384 wound samples, 326 (84.9%) yielded positive bacterial cultures. The most prevalent pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus (49.39%), Enterococcus faecalis (22.89%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (37.09%), and Escherichia coli (27.41%). The most affected age group was 11–20 years (42.8%), and females were slightly more affected (56.02%). Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed high levels of resistance to beta-lactams among bacilli, while resistance to carbapenems remained low. Among cocci, high resistance rates were observed for ciprofloxacin (97%), gentamicin (55.08%), and oxacillin (48.50%). Statistically significant associations were observed between the presence of resistant bacteria and both wound etiology (p = 0.0013) and diabetic status (p = 0.009). Molecular analysis revealed the presence of blaZ (27.38%) and mecA (13.68%) among Gram-positive cocci, and multiple ESBL-associated genes ( blaCTX-M1, blaSHV, blaOXA-1, blaTEM, blaCTX-M9 ) among Gram-negative bacilli. Conclusion The study highlights a high prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacteria in wound infections, with significant implications for antibiotic stewardship and infection control.