en Epidemiologic studies including microbial genotyping, phenotyping and serotyping Epidemiologic studies including microbial genotyping, phenotyping and serotyping Original article Original article <strong>Introduction:</strong> <em>Burkholderia cepacie </em>complex (Bcc) is an emerging multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria frequently isolated from health care facilities worldwide. The present study investigated the prevalence of Bcc in health care settings in Sebha, Libya.<strong> Methods:</strong> Two hundred swabs were initially collected. Forty-seven nosocomial Bcc isolates were identified from three medical care facilities, i.e., 40 (20%) from Sebha Medical Center, five from the Sebha Infertility Treatment Center, and two from Althanweya Clinic. The isolates were identified using a combination of biochemical tests and USP chapter <60> Microbiological Examination of Non-Sterile Products Tests for <em>Burkholderia</em> Cepacia Complex guidelines. A UPGMA dendrogram was used to examine the biochemical relationship of isolates. Some of the putative virulence factors contributing to the pathogenicity of the isolates were also explored. <strong>Results:</strong>&nbsp; Of the 47 isolates, 29.79% were <em>B. cepcia</em>, 23.40%<em> B. cenocepcia</em>, 12.77% <em>B. thailandensis</em>, 8.51% <em>B. vietnamiensis</em>,&nbsp; 6.38% <em>B. ambifaria, B. pyrrocinia, </em>and<em> B. stabilis</em> each,&nbsp; 4.26% <em>B. anthina,</em> and 2.13% <em>B. arboris</em>. A variation in virulence factors was observed among isolates; all (100%) isolates produced siderophore, 91% had capsules, 91% produced lipase, 89% formed a biofilm, and 49% produced alkaline protease. The UPGMA dendrogram revealed that Bcc species shared substantial phenotypical identity among themselves. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> In developing countries with limited resources, diagnostic challenges in identifying Bcc species can be resolved using selective media and USP chapter <60> guidelines. Bcc species, Pathogenic bacteria, Virulence factors, Nosocomial infections 178 184 http://jommid.pasteur.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-340-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Shamsi Saad Shamsi sha.saad@sebhau.edu.ly 0000-0001-9941-5019 Yes Department of Plant Science, Microbiology Program, Research laboratory, Faculty of Science, Sebha University Abdelkader A. Elzen abd.ahmed@sebhau.edu.ly 0000-0003-1735-4801 No Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Sebha University, Sebha, Libya Khadija M. Ahmad kha.ibrahem1@sebhau.edu.ly 0000-0002-4230-3822 No Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Sebha University, Sebha, Libya; Department of Microbiology, Sebha medical center, Sebha