Prevalence of Carbapenem-Resistant Gram-Negative Enterobacteriaceae among Patients in Sebha Medical Center

Abstract

Infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitals. This study aimed to isolate MDR bacteria from intensive care units (ICUs) at Sabha Medical Center. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in the period between September 2025 and March 2026 at Sabha Medical Center. A total of 128 samples were collected. Collected samples were pus swabs, urine, blood, and sputum. Identification and antimicrobial susceptibility tests were applied based on the recommendation of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. The total Gram-negative bacterial strains isolated were 59 (46%), with the predominance of Escherichia coli (45%) followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (21%) and Acinetobacter (11%). Different antibiotics were used against these gram-negative isolates. Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter, Proteus spp., Enterobacter spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pasteurella spp. showed a high resistance rate to the most used antibiotics and especially to carbapenems. This high prevalence of antibiotic resistance requires strict infection control, continuous monitoring, and collaborative action to monitor infection spread in hospitals.