Abstract
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most important infections in adults and children. Escherichia coli is a common cause of urinary tract infection (UTI) affecting both male and female worldwide, however data on the incidence and antibiogram of the various strains of bacteria including E. coli isolated from UTI samples in Libyan population is scanty hence this present study. Objectives: To determine the prevalence and antibiogram of bacteria causing UTIs from a referral hospital in north-western provenance in Libya (Zawia teaching hospital). Methods: A cross-sectional study of mid-stream urine specimens collected from 2286 patients over 2 years, was conducted at Zawia teaching hospital. Each sample was cultivated on blood agar and Mac Conkey agar and incubated at 37oC for 24 hours. Bacterial isolates were identified with Gram stain, biochemical test was done using AP120 and antimicrobial susceptibility tests were done using Kirby-Bauer test (disc diffusion method). Results: Urine samples of the 2286 patients were included in this study of which 788 (34.5%) were children and 1498 (65.5%) were adults. Out of 788 children samples tested 123 (15.6%) were positive for bacterial growth. E. coli were isolated from 61% of the samples, K. Pneumonia in 15.4%, S. aureusin 12.2%, and Enterobacter in 10% and 1.6% showed growth of other bacteria. In adults out of 1498 samples tested 355 (23.7%) were reported positive and 1143 (76.3%) were negative for bacterial growth. In adult samples about 37.5% were positive for E. Coli and 14.1 % for K. Pneumonia, 10% S. aureus, and Enterobacterin 10%, Acientobacter in 2.5%, Pseudomonas in 1.4%, Proteus in 4.5%. Most bacterial isolates showed high sensitivity to Ciprofloxacin, Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, Nalidixic acid, Cefotaxime and Ceftriaxone with resistance to Ampicillin, and Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Conclusion: Data shown in this study concluded that in urinary tract infection E. coli is an important causative agent both in children and adults. Effective infection prevention measures and physician awareness and education regarding drug resistance should be implemented to reduce the prevalence of this important disorder in adults and children.