Molecular determination of some virulance and drug-resistant genes between multi-drug-resistant E. coli isolated from patients with urinary tract infection (UTİ) and the environment

This study was aimed at determining the dissemination of multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli among patients with urinary tract infections and environmental samples. The genetic diversity of MDR E. coli was investigated in the distribution of some antibiotic-resistance genes and virulence factors among isolates. Out of 653 urine and 210 envıronmental specimens collected, 52 had multidrug-resistant uropathogenic E. coli, which was identified. And 9 MDR-E. coli were identified among the water samples, according to an antibiotic susceptibility test using 26 antibiotic disks. All isolates were subjected to a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of selected virulence genes and some antibiotic resistance genes. DNA sequencing was done for selected isolates to detect mutations. PCR was applied to detect genes coding for virulence factors: adhesion (FimH and PapG), capsule (KpsmII), and toxins (HlyA and Cnf1). And extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESPLs) that are responsible for antibiotic resistance (blaOXA, BlaTEM, blaCTX-M, blaSHV). Five FimH and blaOXA PCR products were sequenced by Sanger dideoxy sequencing methods. However, our results show that the vast majority of E. coli isolates were considered multidrug-resistant E. coli, compared with extensive drug resistance (XDR) and pan drug resistance (PDR) among isolated E. coli. The FimH gene (100%) had the highest prevalence among other virulence genes, while Cnf1 (26.9%) had the lowest. The BlaTEM coding gene (67.3%) was the most prevalent compared with the blaSHV coding gene (21.1%). the results of DNA sequencing were submitted to the NCBI, registered in the NCBI GenBank.