The electrocatalytic oxidation of mannitol at a nickel oxide electrode was investigated. The experimental conditions for determining mannitol concentrations have been optimised taking into account the involved electrochemistry. Unlike what previously reported in the literature, our findings lead to the conclusion that both the electrochemical reaction involving the Ni(II)/Ni(III) couple and the chemical reaction between mannitol and Ni(III) are effective in determining the overall kinetics of the electrocatalytic process. The calibration line for mannitol was linear up to 20.0 mmol l^-1. Mannitol determination with the nickel oxide electrode was performed in a liquid culture medium selective for Staphylococcus aureus in order to make an indirect calibration of bacterial viable cells, but the results were not satisfactory.