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Background & objectives: The escalation in carbapenem resistance among Enterobacteriaceae has resulted in a lack of effective therapeutic alternatives. Older antimicrobials, fosfomycin, nitrofurantoin and colistin for urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) may be effective treatment options. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the utility of fosfomycin, nitrofurantoin and colistin in treating UTI caused by CRE and molecular characterization of the plasmid-mediated carbapenem resistance mechanisms. Methods: Consecutive, non-duplicate isolates of CR Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. from urine cultures were included (n=150). Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined by E -test (fosfomycin and nitrofurantoin) and broth microdilution (colistin). Efficacy ratios were derived by dividing susceptibility breakpoints by observed MIC values of the drugs for the isolates. Isolates were screened for genes coding for carbapenemases using multiplex PCR. Fosfomycin, nitrofurantoin and colistin-resistant isolates were screened for plasmid-borne resistance genes fos A3, oqx AB and mcr -1, respectively using PCR. Results: Among E. coli , 98.9, 56 and 95 per cent isolates were susceptible to fosfomycin, nitrofurantoin and colistin, respectively, while 94 and 85 per cent of Klebsiella spp. were susceptible to fosfomycin and colistin, respectively. The efficacy ratios indicated fosfomycin as the drug of choice for UTI caused by CR E. coli and Klebsiella spp., followed by colistin. The bla NDM gene was most common, followed by bla OXA48-like . Plasmid-borne genes encoding resistance to fosfomycin, nitrofurantoin and colistin were absent. Interpretation & conclusions: With increasing resistance against the current treatment options, older drugs may emerge as effective options. Molecular screening of resistant isolates is essential to prevent the spread of plasmid-borne resistance against these drugs.

Strains with multiple betalactamase genes that colonise the gut of hospitalised patients are a potential threat and it may be a potential source of infection.

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