Characterization of Antimicrobial Susceptibility, Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase Genes and Phylogenetic Groups of Enteropathogenic <italic>Escherichia coli</italic> Isolated from Patients with Diarrhea

Abstract

Objectives Infectious diarrhea is one of the most common causes of pediatric death worldwide and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is one of the main causes. There are 2 subgroups of EPEC, typical and atypical, based on the presence or absence of bundle forming pili (bfp), of which atypical EPEC is considered less virulent, but not less pathogenic. Antimicrobial resistance towards atypical EPEC among children is growing and is considered a major problem. In this study the pattern of antibiotic resistance in clinical isolates was determined. Methods Using 130 isolates, antibiotic resistance patterns and phenotypes were assessed, and genotypic profiles of extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) production using disc diffusion and PCR was carried out. Phylogenetic groups were analyzed using quadruplex PCR. Results There were 65 E. coli isolates identified as atypical EPEC by PCR, among which the highest antibiotic resistance was towards ampicillin, followed by trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and tetracycline. Multidrug resistance was detected in 44.6% of atypical EPEC isolates. Around 33% of isolates were determined to be extended spectrum β-lactamase producers, and in 90% of isolates, genes responsible for ESBL production could be detected. Moreover, the majority of atypical EPEC strains belonged to Group E, followed by Groups B1, B2 and C. Conclusion High rates of multidrug resistance and ESBL production among atypical EPEC isolates warrant periodical surveillance studies to select effective antibiotic treatment for patients. It is considered a critical step to manage antibiotic resistance by avoiding unnecessary prescriptions for antibiotics.

Virulence and phylogenetic analysis of enteric pathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from children with diarrhoea in South Africa

“…Similar studies conducted in Iran and in Uganda have reported low rates of phylogroup E (Iranpour et al, 2015;Katongole et al, 2019). The possible source of DEC in this phylogroup could have been from animal feacal matter (Bagheri et al, 2014;Iranpour et al, 2015;Jafari et al, 2020).…”

Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Proteus mirabilis Bacteria from Poultry Meat in the Iraqi Market and a Study of their Resistance to some Antibiotics

“…Also, resistance may occur as a result of the modification of the target site of the PBPs (penicillin binding proteins), which is specialized in binding this antigen, which becomes ineffective [16]. Likewise, the frequent use of beta-lactam antibiotics in the treatment of many pathological conditions such as blood poisoning, food poisoning, and urinary tract infection led to the emergence of strains that are resistant to these antibiotics with the passage of time [17]. And as shown in As for the antibiotics belonging to the group of aminoglycosides, the results showed a discrepancy in their effect on P.mirabilis bacteria, where the bacteria were sensitive to the anti-Amikacin and moderately resistant to the anti-Gentamicin, and this result approached what was reached by [18] as they found that the resistance rate of a group of isolates P.mirabilis for the anti-Amikacin was 17.39%.…”