Determination of Escherichia coli virulance genes and antibiotic resistance in children with diralary condition in different hospitals in Iraq-Bagdat city

The second most common cause of mortality in children under the age of five is diarrhea. It is defined as a condition that results in passing three or more loose stools per day or more often than would be typical for a healthy individual. Diarrhea might be caused by a wide variety of variables, including those related to diet, cleanliness, and environmental circumstances. Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) is a major cause of acute diarrhea outbreaks, especially in countries with less health care. As a result of the high incidence of this variety of E. coli in both hospitals as well as the community, it is accountable for around 11% of all fatalities from diarrhea that occur in children under the age of five all over the globe. Twenty different EPEC isolates have been found after being obtained from children under the age of 5 who were experiencing severe diarrhea. These isolates were identified using microscopic, cultural, biochemical, as well as antibiotic sensitivity testing. Isolates have been evaluated for their capacity to create biofilm as well as haemolysin. PCR was used for the identification of the Bfp and STX2 genes. Among the 20 isolates, 12 were collected from males and 8 were collected from females. The age of participants ranged from 3 months to 4 years and 6 months, with a mean of 2.13 years. In regard to the Bfp and STX2 genes, the frequency among isolates was 75% and 25%, respectively. Ticarcillin and Piperacillin had the highest levels of resistance (95%) followed by Aztreonam, Ciprofloxacin, and Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole (each at 90%). The resistance level to piperacillin-tazobactam and ticarcillin-clavulanic acid was 80%. Meropenem had the lowest resistance level (10%). Only two isolates from five had similarity with another global sequence of the Bfp gene, while there was no significance found with the STX2 gene. Conclusions: EPEC has many key virulence factors, including biofilm and haemolysin, as well as the Bfp and STX2 genes, which boosted the pathogenicity of bacterial isolates and their resistance to antibiotics. 2023, 68 pages Keywords: E.coli, Virulence gene, Diarrhea