IntroductIonSkin fungal infections are fungal diseases that involve the skin, nails, hair, and mucous membrane. [1] Fungal dermatosis are caused by a heterogeneous group of fungi that have the ability to attack the superficial layers of the skin involve stratum corneum, the outermost layer of the skin, and the high keratin-concentration containing appendages, the hair, and nails of the living host. [2] Superficial fungal infection can be categorized as dermatophytic and non-dermatophytic fungal infection. Dermatophytic infections, also known as tinea, affect keratinized tissues. Meanwhile, non-dermatophytic fungal contagions involve tinea versicolor, tinea nigra, piedra, and candidiasis. [3] Dermatophytosis and other superficial and cutaneous fungal infections are still globally regarded as a major health concern. [4,5] Fungal skin infection is becoming common in tropical countries such as Libya due to environmental factors such as heat and humidity but often preventable which necessitates early diagnosis, quick treatment to avert complications, and hospitalizations. Notwithstanding their common incidence, they are often not perceived to be a substantial health alarm. [6] According to the World Health Organization, the global incidence of superficial fungal infection has been reported to be 20%-25%. [7] Studies from different parts of Africa suggest a prevalence of superficial skin fungal infections between 20% and 90%. [8] In Libya, previous studies have documented rates of skin fungal infections ranging from 4.9% to 52.2%. [7,9] The variance in occurrence was significantly attributed to differences in climatic and other geographical conditions in the studied areas. [9] Skin fungal diseases are rarely lethal, but they pose vast economic and psychological problems for patients. They have Background: Skin infection is common worldwide and continues to rise. This study was undertaken to determine the trends in skin fungal infection in patients attending a tertiary hospital. Methods: A total of 253 patients, suspected of superficial and cutaneous skin infections, referred to the Medical Mycology Laboratory of Berustta-Milad Hospital, Libya, were included from attendees over the past 8 years (January 2007-December 2015). Specimens were attained from clinically atypical skin lesions, hair or nail samples of infected patients through scraping. Dermatophyte isolates were identified by studying macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of their colonies. Results: Of 253 samples, fungi were detected in 179 (70.8%) by potassium hydroxide, of which 70 (39.1%) samples were Aspergillus infection followed by 55 (30.7%) samples which were culture positive of Trichophyton spp., 33 (18.4%) samples were isolates of Candida, and 21 (11.8%) due to other opportunistic fungi. Patients with the age group of 17-28 years were more affected. Conclusion: Skin fungal infections are common there is a need to increase the awareness of risk factors contributing to skin fungal infections. Further larger and more detailed epidemiological studi...

Introduction: The global burden of bacterial skin infection is substantial. We aimed to determine the common pathogens causes skin infections and their antimicrobial resistance pattern. Methods: A retrospective record review of data claimed from the microbiology department at Ber-Ustta Milad skin hospital between Jan 2009 to December 2018 was conducted. The consequence of interest was the antimicrobial sensitivity of bacterial isolates. Chi square was used for statistical analysis. Results: Out of 1,141 collected samples, a total of 455 isolates of different medically-significant bacteria were analyzed. The most common pathogen was S. aureus (97.14%), followed by E. coli (93.71%), and the least common was Shigella (0.57%). From the various inoculated samples, S. aureus and proteus were highly resistant to penicillin (34.3%, 75% respectively) and ampicillin (28.6%, 62.5% respectively). E. coli was highly resistant to ampicillin (45.12%) and penicillin (35.96%), whereas the lowest resistant was against imipenem (3.05%). While, Pseudomonas was highly resistant to ampicillin and augmentin (62.5%), whereas the lowest resistance rate was marked to erythromycin, sulfamethoxazole and imipenem (25%). Ciprofloxacin, gentamicin and nalidixic acid were the only sensitive agents. Conclusions: There is a high burden of bacterial resistance to common antibiotics in our population samples. Recognition of the potential resistant strains of pathogen causing skin infection can help in guiding proper choice of antibiotic therapy.

IntroductIonRespiratory tract infection (RTI), including upper and lower respiratory tracts, is one of the most important infectious diseases worldwide that may lead to high risk of morbidity and mortality in both developed and developing countries. [1] RTI especially those occur in upper respiratory tract (URTI) is shown with great frequency in both children and adults and has notable economic effect, related to lost output in the workplace and to the frequent antibiotic prescriptions by physicians. [2] In developed countries such as the United Kingdom, around 8 million people are infected by some types of chronic lung diseases that kill one person in each five persons. [3] However, the situation is more complicated in other developing countries, mainly African countries. The World Health Organization has estimated that 9% of Libyan children under-five deaths in 2000-2003 were caused by pneumonia. [4] URTIs is a contagious disease that remains for hours to few days of exposure. Studies have reported that URTIs symptoms may stay even longer. [5] Several signs and symptoms of URTIs have been mentioned including runny nose, coughing, sneezing, fever, vomiting, sore throat, loss of appetite, and watery eyes. [6] Although the causes of URTI have been attributed to viral, many studies have also shown that the cause of URTI can be also bacterial. [7] Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Moraxella catarrhalis are the most common bacteria implicated as causative agents of URTIs. [8,9] Considering the high morbidity and mortality rates of URTI in developing countries, and limited number of studies on the prevalence of URTI among patients in Libya, this study was Aim: The study aimed to determine the bacterial etiology of upper tract respiratory infection in Abu-

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Background and Objectives: Eye infection may lead to loss of visual function or impairment, causing severe disability. The cornea is particularly sensitive, and the amount of scarring or inflammation that is relatively mild in other areas of the body may have a substantial consequence on the cornea. The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of eye fungal infection among patients attending the Eye Hospital in Tripoli city, Libya. Methods: Seventy-one patients with ocular fungal infections were subjected to clinical and microbiological investigations. They were selected from patients attending the outpatient department, casualty, and floor of Tripoli Eye Hospital. The specimens of the external ocular infections were collected using sterile swab and inoculated to different culture media. Results: The current findings showed that the Aspergillus was the most common causative agent, being responsible for 91.54% of the all cases, it was followed by Candida albicans (8.46%). Conclusion: Knowledge of the pathological course and clinical features of fungal keratitis will undoubtedly be added in early diagnosis and treatment, with reduction in ocular morbidity.