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Abstract. Stool samples from children < 5 years of age with diarrhea ( N = 239) were examined for enteric pathogens using a combination of culture, enzyme-immunoassay, and polymerase chain reaction methods. Pathogens were detected in 122 (51%) stool samples; single pathogens were detected in 37.2% and co-pathogens in 13.8% of samples. Norovirus, rotavirus, and diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) were the most frequently detected pathogens (15.5%, 13.4%, and 11.2%, respectively); Salmonella , adenovirus, and Aeromonas were detected less frequently (7.9%, 7.1%, and 4.2%). The most commonly detected DEC was enteroaggregative E. coli (5.4%). Resistance to ≥ 3 antimicrobials was observed in 60% (18/30) of the bacterial pathogens. Salmonella resistance to ciprofloxacin (63.1%) has become a concern . Enteric viral pathogens were the most significant causative agents of childhood diarrhea in Tripoli. Bacterial pathogens were also important contributors to pediatric diarrhea. The emergence of ciprofloxacin-resistant Salmonella represents a serious health problem that must be addressed by Libyan health authorities * Address correspondence to Khalifa Sifaw Ghenghesh, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Alfateh University, Tripoli, Libya. E-mail: ghenghesh@yahoo.com 887 DIARRHEA IN LIBYAN CHILDREN VA) were used to detect antigens of Cryptosporidium , Entamoeba histolytica , and Giardia lamblia in all specimens.Epi Info, version 3.5.1 software (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA) was used to analyze the data. P values were calculated using the χ 2 test; P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTSEnteric pathogens were detected in 122 (51%) stool samples examined; single pathogens in 37.2%, and multiple pathogens in 13.9% ( Table 2 ). The most common pathogens detected were enteric viruses (82/239; 34.3%) followed by bacterial pathogens (64/239; 26.8%); parasitic pathogens (10/239; 4.2%) were the minority of detected pathogens.Overall, the most common individual pathogens detected were norovirus, rotavirus, and DEC. Among the DEC, pCVD432 (EAggEC) predominated at 5.4% (13/239) followed by eaeA (EPEC/EHEC) at 4.6% (11/239). No est and eltB genes (ETEC) were detected in this work. Salmonella species were detected in 7.9%; the majority of these were group C2. Cryptosporidium was the primary parasitic diarrheal pathogen detected (2.1%) ( Table 2 ).Total enteric pathogens were detected more frequently among diarrheic children ≤ 2 years of age (55.2%, 100/181; P < 0.03, odds ratio [OR] = 2.02) compared with children > 2 years of age (37.9%, 22/58). Although total enteric pathogens were detected at a higher rate in male (54%, 74/137) than in female (47.1%, 48/102) diarrheic children, the difference was not statistically significant ( P > 0.05).Of the 239 diarrheic children included in the study 202 (84.5%) had vomiting, 176 (73.6%) had fever, and 82 (34.3%) had dehydration. Vomiting, fever, and dehydration were significantly associated with children ≤ 2 years o...

IntroductionThe intestinal protozoa Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, and Cryptosporidium spp. are the causative agents of giardiasis, amebiasis, and cryptosporidiosis, respectively. Adequate knowledge of the geographical distribution of parasites and the demographic variables that influence their prevalence is important for effective control of infection in at-risk populations.MethodsThe data were obtained by an English language literature search of Medline and PubMed for papers using the search terms ‘intestinal parasites and Libya, G. lamblia and Libya, E. histolytica and Libya and Cryptosporidium and Libya’ for the period 2000–2015.ResultsThe data obtained for the period 2000–2015 showed prevalence rates of 0.8–36.6% (mean 19.9%) for E. histolytica/dispar, 1.2–18.2% (mean 4.6%) for G. lamblia and 0.9–13% (mean 3.4%) for Cryptosporidium spp. among individuals in Libya with gastroenteritis (GE). On the other hand, prevalence rates of 0.8–16.3% (mean 8.3%), 1.8–28.8% (mean 4.8%), and 1.0–2.5% (mean=2.4), respectively, were observed for individuals without GE. The mean prevalence rate of E. histolytica/dispar was significantly higher among individuals with GE compared with those without GE (p<0.0000001, OR=2.74). No significant difference in prevalence rate of the three organisms was found according to gender, but most of infections were observed in children aged 10 years or younger.ConclusionThe reviewed data suggest that E. histolytica, G. lamblia, and Cryptosporidium spp. may play a minor role in GE in Libya. The observed high prevalence rates of E. histolytica/dispar reported from Libya could be due mainly to the non-pathogenic E. dispar and E. moshkovskii. However, more studies are needed in the future using E. histolytica-specific enzyme immunoassays and/or molecular methods to confirm this observation.

Resistance to antimicrobial agents is a major health problem that affects the whole world. Providing information on the past state of antimicrobial resistance in Libya may assist the health authorities in addressing the problem more effectively in the future. Information was obtained mainly from Highwire Press (including PubMed) search for the period 1970–2011 using the terms ‘antibiotic resistance in Libya’, ‘antimicrobial resistance in Libya’, ‘tuberculosis in Libya’, and ‘primary and acquired resistance in Libya’ in title and abstract. From 1970 to 2011 little data was available on antimicrobial resistance in Libya due to lack of surveillance and few published studies. Available data shows high resistance rates for Salmonella species in the late 1970s and has remained high to the present day. High prevalence rates (54–68%) of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were reported in the last decade among S. aureus from patients with burns and surgical wound infections. No reports were found of vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA) or vancomycin-intermediate-resistant S. aureus (VISA) using standard methods from Libya up to the end of 2011. Reported rates of primary (i.e. new cases) and acquired (i.e. retreatment cases) multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) from the eastern region of Libya in 1971 were 16.6 and 33.3% and in 1976 were 8.6 and 14.7%, in western regions in 1984–1986 were 11 and 21.5% and in the whole country in 2011 were estimated at 3.4 and 29%, respectively. The problem of antibiotic resistance is very serious in Libya. The health authorities in particular and society in general should address this problem urgently. Establishing monitoring systems based on the routine testing of antimicrobial sensitivity and education of healthcare workers, pharmacists, and the community on the health risks associated with the problem and benefits of prudent use of antimicrobials are some steps that can be taken to tackle the problem in the future.

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