Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of Escherichia coli Among Visitors of Pathology Centers in Gharyan

The collection of comprehensive data is crucial for monitoring antimicrobial resistance (AMR) patterns and implementing targeted interventions. However, there is a lack of data regarding the AMR status of pathogens in Libya, hinders the efforts to address the problem effectively. This retrospective study evaluates the prevalence of Escherichia coli AMR isolates to gentamycin, chloramphenicol, cefoxitin (or) ceftriaxone, meropenem, moxifloxacin (Mox), amoxicillin/clavulanate (AUG) or ampicillin-sulbactam (UNZ) among the visitors to the main pathology laboratories in Gharyan city. Reports from 107 AMR tests demonstrate that E. coli was mostly isolated from Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs, 85%) followed by vaginal infections (8.4%) and wound infections (6.5%). More than half of the isolates were multi-drug resistant which is a clear indicator of the need for continuous monitoring. The overall pattern demonstrates a high resistance rate to cephalosporins, and combinations of penicillins with beta-lactamase inhibitors (UNZ or AUG), followed by high resistance rates to Mox. In contrast, E. coli isolates showed high sensitivity to meropenem followed by gentamicin and chloramphenicol. However, the isolation site seems to affect the resistance patterns, most of the wound isolates were resistant to gentamycin. In contrast, all vaginal isolates were resistant to UNZ or AUG, yet both types showed high susceptibility to meropenem.