Prevalence and Antibiotic Resistance of Vaginal Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates in Reproductive-Age Women in Zawia, Libya

Abstract

Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic pathogen increasingly associated with vaginal infections and known for its multidrug resistance. Limited local data are available on its prevalence and resistance profiles among reproductive-age women in Libya. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of K. pneumoniae among vaginal isolates in reproductive-age women in Zawia, Libya, and to assess its antibiotic resistance patterns. Vaginal swabs were collected from women aged 20–49 years between October 2022 and March 2023. Isolates were identified using standard microbiological techniques, and antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the disk diffusion method. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Out of 58 vaginal pathogen isolates, K. pneumoniae accounted for 23 cases (39.7%), with the highest prevalence observed in the 40–49 age group (65.3%). Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed high resistance rates to multiple antibiotics, including 100% resistance to gentamicin and chloramphenicol, over 90% resistance to co-trimoxazole and cefixime, and notable resistance to cephalosporins and carbapenems. However, relatively higher susceptibility was noted for nitrofurantoin, ceftriaxone, meropenem, and colistin. The study demonstrates a notable prevalence of K. pneumoniae in vaginal infections among older reproductive-age women in Zawia, with alarming multidrug resistance patterns. These findings highlight the need for ongoing surveillance, appropriate antibiotic stewardship, and targeted preventive strategies to limit the spread of resistant strains and ensure effective treatment options remain available.