Carbapenems are the last resort antimicrobials for the treatment of extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) producing Enterobacteriaceae. Emergence of carbapenems resistant group B2 uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) is a major concern because of their high virulence. Prevalence of these enzymes and multidrug resistance (MDR) among B2 UPEC isolates from Iraqi outpatients with acute urinary tract infection (UTI) was evaluated in this research. Urine cultures were performed and the isolates were identified biochemically. Escherichia coli isolates were tested for phylogroup reference by quadraplex PCR, then B2 isolates were detected for antimicrobial resistance by disc diffusion test and carbapenemase genes by PCR. Escherichia coli was the most prevalent among Gram-negative isolates (66.6%) and B2 was the most detected phylogroup among E. coli isolates (33.9%). Most of B2 isolates showed high resistance rates to tested antimicrobials, especially β-lactams with MDR revealed in 100% of them. Whereas, low resistance rates were noted against carbapenems, aminoglycosides and nitrofurantoin. Carbapenemase genes were detected in 76.3% of B2 isolates. Of which, blaOXA-48 was the most frequent (57.8%), followed by blaPER (47.3%), blaKPC (15.7%), blaVEB and blaVIM (10.5%, for each). Whereas, blaGES and blaIMP genes were not found. Coproduction of these genes occurred among 17 isolates. The combination of blaOXA-48 and blaPER was the most frequent (41.1%). All carbapenemase producing isolates were MDR. These results revealed high prevalence of carbapenemase genes and MDR among B2 UPEC recovered in this study. In the study area. it is strongly advised to use aminoglycosides and nitrofurantoin for empirical treatment of UPEC.

BackgroundVaginal Escherichia coli is a reservoir along the fecal-vaginal-urinary/neonatal course of transmission in extraintestinal E. coli infections. They also causes genital tract infections especially vaginitis, so that detection of their antibiotic resistance is an important approach to control these infections. One important mechanism of resistance is ESBL production by Enterobacteriaceae especially Klebsiella spp. and Escherichia coli, which is now a worldwide problem that limits therapeutic options.MethodsSixty one vaginal E. coli isolates from pregnant and non-pregnant women, were detected phenotypically and genotypically for ESBL production.ResultsMost of pregnant and non-pregnant women's isolates, were resistant to cefotaxime (100% vs. 81.5%, respectively) and more than half of them to ceftazidime (56.5% vs. 71.0%, respectively). One hundred percent each, 52.1% vs. 68.4%, and 73.9% vs. 60.5%%, were ESBL producers by screening, confirmatory, and PCR tests, respectively. Pregnant women's isolates had: CTX-M- (69.5%), SHV- and OXA-type (each 4.3%) ESBLs. Only one isolate (4.3%) had two types of ESBLs. All 16 CTX-M-positive (100%) isolates had CTX-M-1. Non-pregnant women's isolates were predominated by SHV and CTX-M -type (44.7% vs. 39.4%, respectively), followed by OXA- (15.7%), and TEM-type (2.6%). Of these isolates, 42.1% had two types of ESBL genes. All 15 CTX-M-positive (100%) isolates had CTX-M-1. Pregnant and non-pregnant women's isolates differed significantly (P≤ 0.05) regarding the expression of SHV- (4.3% vs. 44.7%, respectively) and CTX-M-type (69.5% vs. 39.4%, respectively) ESBLs. In both, CTX-M-1 was the predominant CTX-M group (each 100%). All of the isolates were susceptible to imipenem and meropenem, while the highest rate of resistance was against β-lactams. Multidrug resistance was noted in 56.2% of ESBL-producing isolates.ConclusionsGgenital tracts of pregnant and non-pregnant women represent different environments for propagation of ESBL-producing E. coli. In Iraq, nationwide study is required to make a precise estimation of this widespread of ESBL-producing bacteria.

Introduction: Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing strains of Enterobacteriaceae are considered to be emerging pathogens. They are a major problem in hospitalized as well as community-based patients. Major outbreaks involving ESBL strains have been reported from all over the world. Recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the risk factors for infection with ESBL-producing E. coli in hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients. Methodology: Ninety-one E. coli isolates from outpatients with recurrent UTIs were surveyed phenotypically and genotypically for ESBL production and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility. Results: Of 91 E. coli isolates, 75.8% were resistant to each of cefotaxime and ceftazidime and 74.7% produced ESBLs. CTX-M-type was the most frequent ESBL (accounting for 70.3%), with CTX-M-1 being the only subtype possessed by these isolates. The prevalence of OXA-and SHV-type was 32.9% and 10.9%, respectively. None of the isolates produced TEM β-lactamase. All OXA-type ESBL were produced concomitantly with CTX-M1. Both ESBL producers and non-producers had high resistance to ampicillin followed by trimethoprimsulphamethoxazole, third-generation cephalosporins, and tetracycline. No isolate showed resistance to imipenem and meropenem. In total, resistance rates of ESBL producers were higher than those of ESBL non-producers, as was multidrug resistance (52.7% versus 8.7%, respectively). Conclusions: Our study documented high distribution of ESBLs among E. coli isolates from outpatients with recurrent UTIs, with CTX-M as the predominant ESBL. In the current situation, it is important that antibiotic treatment is be started only after a proper sensitivity report is obtained from the laboratory.

Vaginal (61) and fecal (61) Escherichia coli isolates from pregnant and nonpregnant women (18–45 years old) were surveyed for papG alleles by PCR technique. papG allele II was the most prevalent among both vaginal (32.7%) and fecal (3.2%) isolates, whereas other alleles were found only among vaginal isolates (1.6% for alleles I and III and 3.2% for alleles II + III). papG + pregnant women's isolates did not differ significantly from those of nonpregnant in possession of papG allele II (90% versus 73.3%), whereas both (32.7%) differed significantly (P ≤ 0.05) in comparison with fecal isolates (3.2%). The vast majority of papG allele II+ vaginal isolates were clustered in group B2 (81.8%) and much less in group D (18.1%). Also, most of them were positive for fimH (100%), papC (100%), iucC (90.9%), and hly (72.7%), and about half of them were positive for sfa/foc (45.4%). In addition, the mean of VFs' gene possession was 3.5 (range from 2 to 5). It can be concluded that vaginal colonization by papG allele II+ E. coli is possibly one of the predisposing factors of both pregnant and nonpregnant women to pyelonephritis, but its potential may be modified by other factors especially host factors.