Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of Multidrug-Resistant Bacterial Pathogens Among Pediatric Patients in Tobruk, Libya
Keywords:
Antimicrobial resistance, Multidrug resistance, Pediatrics & Escherichia coliAbstract
Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health concern, particularly in pediatric populations where treatment options are limited. Objective: To determine the prevalence of bacterial pathogens and their patterns of antibiotic resistance among children in Tobruk, Libya. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 139 bacterial isolates obtained from pediatric patients. Identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing were performed using standard microbiological methods. MDR was defined as resistance to ≥3 antibiotic classes. Results: Females accounted for 56.1% of cases. Gram-negative bacteria were predominant (73.4%). Escherichia coli (43.9%) was the most common isolate, followed by Staphylococcus spp. (25.2%) and Klebsiella spp. (10.1%). High resistance rates were observed to ampicillin (78.7%) among E. coli and penicillin (88.6%) among Staphylococcus spp. The overall MDR (multidrug-resistant) prevalence was 62.6%. Conclusion: A high burden of MDR pathogens was observed among children in Tobruk. Continuous surveillance and antibiotic stewardship programs are urgently required
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