Genotyping and Molecular Characterization of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamases-Producing Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli in and Around Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

Background: Escherichia coli, an extraintestinal flora, develops virulence traits through a persistent encounter with host and constant exposure to antibiotics, which makes it line up as the most common urinary pathogen. Thus, this study aimed to screen the presence of virulence traits among multidrug-resistant urinary pathogenic E. coli among the urine samples collected from inpatients and outpatients of the multispecialty hospitals. Materials and Methods: Standard microbiological laboratory protocols were followed, and about 210 samples were processed and screened. Results: Among those samples, 114 were reported positive for the presence of uropathogenic E. coli(UPEC). Gender-wise distribution was found to be more among female patients (56%) than male patients (51%). During screening for hemolytic activity, 37% of test isolates were α hemolytic, 48% were β hemolytic, and 15% were γ hemolytic. Screening virulence among test isolates, sfa gene (49%), afa (42%), hly (68%), CNF (43%), and aer, accounts for 65%. Further, the multidrug resistance of the isolates was done by using ten antibiotics. All the isolates exhibited the multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR), and the highest percentage of resistance was found against ceftazidime (100%), and the least percentage of resistance was observed against imipenem (2%) followed by amikacin (8%). MAR index values of all the isolates ranged from 0.4 to 1. Conclusion: The presence of various virulence genes and the high degree of resistance among the isolates against the antibiotics used in this study confirm the prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase producers among the UPEC.