Investigation of virulence factors and their relationship with antimicrobial resistance among uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolates identified from patients in Basrah city, Iraq

Abstract

<p>Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is one of the main causes of urinary tract infections (UTIs). We aimed to investigate the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) pattern, the frequency of some virulence genes (VGs), and the association of AMR with VGs.</p><p>A total of 300 urine samples were collected from patients suspected to have UTI. The samples were examined by biochemical and microbiological methods and VITEK2 compact system to identify the bacterial infectious agents. The antimicrobial resistance pattern and virulence genes (papAH, papC, papEF, papG, fimH, and fyuA) profile of UPEC isolates were investigated and the relationship between these traits was evaluated by statistical methods.</p><p>Among these samples, 201 (67%) exhibited a positive growth on culture media. E. coli was isolated from 60 (29.85 %) specimens followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae 42 (20.90%), Staphylococcus aureus 38 (18.9%), Enterobacter spp 29 (14.43%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 10 (4.98%), Proteus mirabilis 15 (7.46%), others about 7 (3.48 %) isolates. Antibiogram results of 15 antibiotics examined showed that all E. coli isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR). The commonest antimicrobial resistance was observed against Streptomycin (100%), Kanamycin (98.3%), and Ampicillin (96.7%). The most sensitive agents were Meropenem (96.4%), Nitrofurantoin (93.4%), and Imipenem (85%). VGs detected among UPEC isolates were fimH (88.3%), papAH (85%), papC (85%), papG (80%), fyuA (80%), and papEF (60%).These results alleged no strong correlation between VGs and AMR in E. coli strains.</p><p>Based on the results of the present study, virulence genes, and antimicrobial resistance are independent properties and can transfer to other bacteria separately.Further studies are needed to better understand the relationship between different virulence factors (VFs) and AMR at a molecular level, as most UPEC isolates express several VFs and AMR simultaneously.</p&gt