Applied Microbiology: Open Access
Open Access

Abstract

Phenotypic and molecular characterization of Multidrug-resistant Uropathogenic Escherichia coli.

Tonushyam Sonowal*, Shariff M

Background: Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is the second most common infection after respiratory tract infections in the community. In hospitals, UTI is the most prevalent infection accounting for approximately 35% of all hospitalacquired illnesses. Uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) accounts for 70% of all cases. Many MDR isolates of E. coli have been reported and a significant increase in rates makes it a difficult-to-treat pathogen.

Aim: Detection of production of beta-lactamases in Multidrug-Resistant (MDR) urinary isolates of Escherichia coli by phenotypic and molecular methods.

Materials and methods: Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) isolates confirmed by MALDI-TOF were included in the study. The isolates were tested for antibiotic sensitivity to different antimicrobials and the production of beta-lactamases viz. In multi-drug resistant isolates, ESBL, MBL and AmpC were tested by both phenotypic and genotypic assays. Their clonality was determined by the RAPD.

Results: Out of a total of 1150 urinary samples, 122 yielded pathogens of which 55 were E. coli. Twenty-nine (52.7%) isolates that were multi-drug resistant were tested for the presence of beta-lactamases. All (29) isolates were positive for ESBL and 6 isolates also harbored MBL genes by PCR. None of the isolates produced AmpC. OXA (n=21) was the commonest followed by TEM and SHV. Among the MBLs, SPM, GIM, IMP and VIM were detected. Thirteen isolates had multiple types of beta-lactamase genes.

Conclusion: 53 percent of our E. coli isolates were MDR. All of them produced beta-lactamases. Hence, routine ESBL testing for uropathogens would be useful for all cases of UTI.

Published Date: 2025-02-10; Received Date: 2024-02-26