Abstract
Background: The causative primary agent of urinary tract infections (UTI) is uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC); however, commensal Escherichia coli (CEC) has been also implicated in the development of UTI. Due to the recent emergence of virulent and resistant strains, it is necessary to have evidence to demonstrate that UPEC and CEC are isolated from patients with UTI and subsequently they have the genes to be considered pathogenic. Objectives: To determine the distribution of resistance and virulence genes in UPEC and CEC strains isolated from the patients with UTI (hospitalized and ambulatory). Methods: One hundred seven E. coli strains were genotyped according to Clermont protocol and were subjected to PCR assays in order to detect resistance and virulence genes. In addition, the antimicrobial test in solid media was performed to determinate the correlation âpheno/genotypeâ. Results: Genotyping analysis showed that group B2 (42.05%) was the most predominant, strains followed by A (27.1%), D (24.29%), and finally, B1 (6.54%). β-lactams, carbapenems, aminoglycosides, and nitrofurans showed the best activity. The virulence gene frequencies were: fimH (92/85.98%), iutA (68/63.55%), traT (66/61.68%), papC (36/33.64%), and cnf1 (15/14.02%) while resistance genes were: blaCTX-M(41/38.32%), blaOXA (49/45.79%), and blaSHV (2/1.87%). The associations fimH/blaCTX, fimH/blaOXA, traT/blaCTX, traT/blaOXA, iutA/blaCTX, and iutA/blaOXA showed higher incidence while the associations with cnf1 and papC genes were low. Conclusions: Uropathogenic E. coli has the necessary genetic elements (virulence and resistance) to be considered the main pathogen causing UTI in the Mexican population. Additionally, to our knowledge, there are no studies in our country demonstrating that the CEC isolated from the patients with UTI contains genetic elements of virulence and resistance that allow them to be potentially pathogenic.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
