Abstract
This present study was designed to determine the occurrence frequency of blaCTX-M and blaTEM genes in extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing uropathogenic Escherichia coli, and their antibiotic resistance patterns among hospital attendees in Abakaliki, Nigeria. Out of the 73 uropathogenic E.coli isolates analyzed, 52 were identified to be ESBL producers using double disk synergy technique. The frequency of beta-lactamse (bla) genes (CTX-M and TEM) among E. coli was molecularly determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Out of 52 (71.2%) ESBL-producing uropathogenic E. coli, 17 (32.7%) were positive for blaTEM, 35 (67.3%) were positive for blaCTX-M while 8 (15.3%) harboured both blaTEM and blaCTX-M genes. CTX-M gene was the most prevalent gene. Isolates evaluated in our study were resistant to cefotaxime (83.6%), ceftazidime (79.5%), amoxycillin (72.6%), cefpodoxime (68.5%), aztreonam (61.6%), ceftriaxone (57.5%), and cefepime (37%). This study demonstrated the occurrence frequency of CTX-M and TEM genes in uropathogenic E. coli strains in Abakaliki. Even though molecular techniques are more reliable in the detection of ESBL production, routine clinical screening for ESBL-producing uropathogens using phenotypic method should be introduced and encouraged in clinical settings as they are less expensive. This will go a long way in checkmating drug resistance. Key words: Escherichia coli, uropathogens, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL), resistance genes, antibiotics.
Highlights
Microbial resistance by pathogenic Escherichia coli is a major worldwide concern
Out of the 52 extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) positive uropathogenic E. coli isolates, 17 (32.7%) harboured blaTEM gene, 35 (67.3%) harboured blaCTXM gene, while 8 (15.3%) harboured both blaTEM and blaCTX-M genes (Table 4)
This study has shown the presence of uropathogenic E. coli with ESBL-producing ability in the urine samples of hospital attendees in Abakaliki, Nigeria
Summary
Microbial resistance by pathogenic Escherichia coli is a major worldwide concern. Antibacterial agents, especially beta-lactams are becoming less useful against Enterobacteriaceae (Dia et al, 2015). E. coli implicated in UTIs are becoming multidrug-resistant as a result of their extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing ability. Beta-lactam resistance is mediated by ESBL genes that are mostly encoded by plasmid (Topaloglu et al, 2010). ESBLs are a branch of beta-lactamases that have the ability of hydrolyzing the β-lactam ring of penicillins, aztreonam, and cephalosporins. They often remain susceptible to cephamycins and carbapenems (imipenem and ertapenems) (Shehani and Sui, 2013). CTX-M, TEM, SHV, and AmpC beta-lactamase genes have been identified in E. coli isolates from UTI patients over the years (Koshesh et al, 2017). Sima et al (2016) reported CTX-M (74%), SHV (45%), and TEM (67%) genes in E. coli isolates. This study was designed to molecularly characterize ESBL-producing uropathogenic Escherichia coli from hospital attendees in Ebonyi State, Nigeria
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