Investigation of oxa type genes in multidrug resistant Escherichia coli isolated from patients with urinary tract infections in Baghdad

Escherichia coli, commonly known as E. coli, emerges as the predominant causative agent in urinary tract infections. The primary objective of this research is to meticulously isolate pathogenic strains of E. coli responsible for inducing inflammation in the urinary tract. The investigation aims to comprehensively evaluate the resistance of these strains to specific chemotherapeutic agents, particularly those linked to the oxa-type gene. In the examination of 150 urine samples, E. coli was discerned in 75 samples using the advanced Vitek 2 compact technology. The isolated strains of E. coli exhibited substantial resistance to a spectrum of antibiotics. The resistance percentages were notably high for various antibiotics, including Amoxicillin/Clavulanic Acid (90.7%), Piperacillin/tazobactam (86.7%), Imipenem (86.7%), Ticarcillin-clavulanic acid (74.7%), Meropenem (73.3%), Ampicillin-sulbactam (66.7%), Cefepime (66.7%), Ceftriaxone (66.7%), Cefixime (62.7%), Ceftazidime (62.7%), Cefoxitin (60%), Ciprofloxacin (60%), Doxycycline (56%), and Cefotaxime (54.6%). Conversely, resistance was comparatively lower against Imipenem+EDTA (45.3%), Cefalexin (40%), Tobramycin (33.3%), Levofloxacin (33.3%), Amikacin (22.6%), Colistin (16%), Tetracycline (9.3%), and Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (9.3%). Moreover, the study uncovered a notable capacity of E. coli for biofilm production. Among the strains, 44.4% were classified as strong biofilm producers, 31.1% as moderate, and 24.4% as weak. The investigation also brought to light the presence of resistance genes, with 10% of the strains harboring the OXA-23 gene, 13.3% containing the OXA-24 gene, and 33.3% possessing the OXA-69 gene. This study underscores the prevalence of E. coli strains characterized by robust biofilm production and the existence of resistance genes, offering crucial insights into the formidable challenges posed by antibiotic resistance in the context of urinary tract infections.