In-Vitro Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern of Pathogenic Bacterial Species Isolated from Semen of Infertile Men in Misurata, Libya

الملخص

Background: Since bacteria can agglutinate and immobilize spermatozoa, bacterial infections have been
linked to infertility. According to this theory, there is a direct link between inflammation and male infertility.
Objective: To study the microbiological profile of the semen specimens collected from adult married males
visiting the infertility centers and investigate the antibiotic sensitivity pattern to these isolates. Material and
method: Semen samples of 245 men attending Lamis IVF and Almajd Lab were evaluated with bacteriological
culture. The specimens were processed using standard microbiological procedures for isolating and identifying
the organism, followed by antibiotic susceptibility testing. The results were recorded and analysed. Results:
The semen culture was negative in 40.80% and positive in 59.20% of the samples. From 145 samples, 77.90%
Gram positive and 22% Gram negative. The most commonly isolated organism was Staphylococcus aureus (in
68.3% of the samples), followed by Escherichia coli (9.6%). This study revealed that Nitrofurantoin was active
against most of the organisms isolated and can be used as drug to treat antibiotic-resistant bacteria for
genitourinary tract infections; but most of the organisms were resistant against Tetracycline and Erythromycin.
Conclusions: Bacterial infections can play an important role in male infertility and Nitrofurantoin and
Imipenem can be potentially used for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant genital tract infections.