| Abstrakt: |
This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes CTX-Mand Qnr, as well as the virulence genes HlyA, Pap, CNF1, and Afa, in uropathogenic Escherichia coli(UPEC) isolates from the Egyptian population. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 50 E. coliisolates were collected from urine samples from patients with urinary tract infections (UTIs) admitted to Tanta University Hospital from December 2020 to November 2021. The isolates were cultured, identified, and tested for antibiotic susceptibility by the disc diffusion method. The CTX-M, Qnr(QnrA, B, and S), Pap, CNF1, HlyA, and Afagenes were detected by polymerase chain reaction in UPECisolates. The Pap, CNF1, HlyA, and Afagenes were found to be positive in 18%, 12%, 10%, and 2% of the isolates, respectively. In addition, CTX-Mand QnrSwere found to be positive in 44% and 8% of the isolates, while QnrAand Bwere not detected. Furthermore, positive Pap, CNF1, and HlyAgenes were significantly associated with both upper and lower UTIs, increased frequency, urgency, and dysuria, and complicated UTIs, as well as pyuria over 100 white blood cells per high-power field. In conclusion, the prevalence of virulence and antibiotic resistance genes varies by population. At our hospital, the Papgene is the most prevalent virulence gene and was strongly associated with complicated UTIs, while the CTX-Mand QnrSgenes were the most prevalent and related to antibiotic resistance. Our findings, however, should be interpreted with caution due to the small sample size. |
