Charecterization of the virulence factors genes of E. coli isolated from men suffering from urinary tract infection and fertility problems in Anbar province

In this study, urinary tract infection (UTI), a common source of morbidity worldwide, was analyzed. UTIs are usually caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) bacteria. A total of 120 samples from male patients were used in the study. Vitek II technology, conventional biochemical and culture tests were used to isolate E. coli bacteria from UTI patients with fertility problems. Genes encoding virulence factors (fimH, aer, afa and hlyA) were identified by PCR. SPSS software was used to analyze the data. The results showed that Escherichia coli accounted for 25% (30 isolates) of the bacterial growth in 120 samples, while other bacteria accounted for 75% (90 isolates). According to the E. coli antibiotic resistance analysis of the Vitek II system, 90% of the isolates (27 isolates) were resistant to Amoxicillin-Clavulanic Acid, Ampicillin and Cefotaxime, while 83.3% (25 isolates) were resistant to Amoxicillin and Temocillin. Furthermore, 73.3% (22 isolates) were resistant to Aztreonam, 66.6% (20 isolates) to Imipenem and Meropenem/Vaborbactam, 60% (18 isolates) to Cefoxitin and 76.6% (23 isolates) to Ampicillin/Sulbactam, Piperacillin and Piperacillin/Sulbactam. E. coli isolates were found to have significant biofilm forming ability. Of these isolates, 43.3% formed strong biofilm, 40% formed moderate biofilm and 16.6% formed weak biofilm. The results revealed a significant decrease in sperm concentration, total motility and sperm volume. Using PCR technique, the most common virulence genes were found to be 17 (56.6%) for fimH, 15 (50%) for aer and afa, and 12 (40%) for hlyA.