Bacterial Uropathogens in Urinary Tract Infection and Antibiotic Susceptibility Patterns among Patients Attending at Tobruk Medical Center, Tobruk, Libya

Authors

  • Eisa S Omar Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tobruk, Tobruk, Libya.
  • Fares Elkarimi Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tobruk, Tobruk, Libya
  • Omar M Farag Intern student, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tobruk, Tobruk, Libya.
  • Nehal K khalil Intern student, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tobruk, Tobruk, Libya.
  • Farah R salim Intern student, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tobruk, Tobruk, Libya.
  • Fawzia M Sasi Intern student, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tobruk, Tobruk, Libya.
  • Mosa A Ali Intern student, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tobruk, Tobruk, Libya.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37375/susj.v15i2.3727

Keywords:

Urinary Tract Infection, Uropathogens, Tobruk Medical Center, E. coli, Antibiotic Resistance

Abstract

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) remain one of the most widespread infectious diseases globally and represent a major cause of morbidity across all age groups. This study aimed to identify the bacterial pathogens responsible for UTIs and to evaluate their antibiotic susceptibility profiles. Midstream urine samples were collected from patients attending Tobruk Medical Center, Libya, between August and October 2023, and processed according to standard microbiological procedures. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion technique following Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Among 130 urine specimens analyzed, 78 (60%) yielded significant bacterial growth. Females accounted for the majority of positive cultures (55; 42%), compared to males (23; 17.9%). Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were the predominant uropathogens. Both organisms exhibited high sensitivity to carbapenems (Imipenem and Meropenem), while showing considerable resistance to Cefotaxime and Trimethoprim–Sulfamethoxazole. These findings highlight the need for ongoing antimicrobial surveillance and rational antibiotic prescribing to curb rising resistance rates.

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Published

2025-12-24

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