Fecal isolates of Escherichia coli are divided into four main phylogenetic groups designated A, B1, B2 and D. Most commensal strains belong to group A and have fewer virulence factors than the extra intestinal pathogenic E. coli strains (ExPEC). This study was mainly designed for phylogenetic grouping of commensal fecal E. coli isolates from healthy males and females in Al-Kut City/Wasit Province/Iraq using PCR-based protocols. Also ExPEC's virulence genes were detected among these isolates. Among this study included isolates (n=205), group A was the most common among both females' and males' isolates (68.5% vs. 63.0%, respectively), followed by groups: B1 (15.7% vs. 22.6%, respectively), D (10.7% vs. 9.5%, respectively), and B2 (4.1% vs. 4.7%, respectively). Gender distribution of phylogenetic groups showed insignificant differences between females and males. Females' and males' isolates did not differ significantly for all of the detected ExPEC's virulence genes, except for papC which was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) more prevalent among males' isolates (16.6%) than among females' isolates (6.6%). In both females' and males' isolates the most prevalent virulence genes were fimH (97.5% vs. 100%, respectively) and iucC (52.0% vs. 55.9%, respectively), whereas the least prevalent were sfa/foc (0% each) and hly (0.82% vs. 0%, respectively). Furthermore, virulence genes were concentrated in isolates clustered in group B2.In both females and males, high percent of dominant commensal fecal E. coli isolates from Iraqi people in Al-Kut City clustered in phylogroup A followed by groups B1 and D whereas group B2 was rare. Also, dominant fecal strains with ExPEC characteristics were much less prevalent.

Staphylococcus aureus is a significant factor in the development of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Prevalence of sinonasal methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) appears to be increasing among CRS patients. For that this study was designed to detect the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of MRSA isolates from Iraqi patients with CRS living in Al-Kut city/Wasit Province. Out of 264 patients with CRS, S. aureus was isolated from 71 (one isolate per patient) (26.8%). Of these patients, 37 (52.1%) were females (age range 2 months to 61 year) and 34 (47.8%) were males (age range 3 to 70 year). Fifty two (73.2%) of S. aureus isolates were MRSA, of which 71.1% were mecApositive. Distribution of MRSA was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) associated with patient's age, whereas it was insignificantly associated with patient's gender. The highest resistance rates of MRSA were against β-lactams except carbapenems, whereas the highest susceptibility was for vancomycin, followed by imipenem, genatmycin, meropenem and ciprofloxacin. Twenty two (30.9%) isolates were multidrug resistant (MDR), of which 20 (28.1%) were MRSA and 2 (2.8%) were methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA). No isolate showed resistance or sensitivity to all antimicrobials included in this study. Highest rate of multidrug resistance was to 13 antimicrobials (1 isolate which was MRSA), whereas the lowest rate was to 6 antimicrobials (3 isolates which were MRSA). Conclusions: These results indicate the high prevalence of MRSA among Iraqi patients with CRS and reveal its predominance in our community. Furthermore, high percentage of these isolates were MDR, which urge us to reevaluate the empiric treatment of these cases.