PREVALENCE AND ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITY OF COMMON URINARY BACTERIAL ISOLATES FROM OUT-PATIENTS IN MISRATA, LIBYA

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility of bacterial strains
isolated from urine specimen of out-patients with UTI in Misrata region, Libya.
Method: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted by reviewing the results of
microbiological culture and sensitivity tests performed in Alnoor Medical Laboratory in
Misurata city from the first of January 2021 to 31th of December 2021. Data were
processed and analyzed by IBM SPSS statistical version 25. A p value of less than 0.05
was considered as statistically significant. Results: Three hundred (300) urine samples
of 300 UTI patients were positive for pathogenic bacteria. S. aureus was the predominate
isolate, representing 49.33% of all bacterial isolates, followed by E. Coli (26.33%),
Klebsiella Spp. (10.34%), Streptococcus Spp. (7.66%), Pseudomonas Spp. (2.66%),
Proteus Spp. (2.34%), and Acinobacter Spp. (1.34%). The age of the patients has a
significant effect on the distribution of uropathogens, since E. coli was the predominant
bacteria in patients younger than 18 years. The isolated bacteria were most susceptible to
imipenem, ciprofloxacin, and gentamicin. They were highly resistant to azithromycin,
cefixime, and co-trimoxazole. Nitrofurantoin, ceftriaxone, and co-amoxiclav exhibit
modest activity against most uropathogens. Conclusion: The obtained results indicate the
high resistance against commonly used antibiotics, and emphasis the necessity of
continuous evaluation of antibiogram of urinary isolates for proper use of antibiotics.