Antimicrobial Resistance and Molecular Epidemiology of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Isolated From Female Patients in Shanghai, China

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common bacterial infections and UTI is the most common extraintestinal infectious disease entity in women worldwide. Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the leading cause of UTI. While antimicrobial resistance has emerged as one of the principal problems of UTI, little is known about the epidemiology of UPEC isolated from female patients in Shanghai. This study aimed to describe the antimicrobial resistance and molecular epidemiology of UPEC isolated from female patients in Shanghai, China. UPEC isolates were collected from female patients from July 2019 to June 2020 in Shanghai and a total of 151 isolates were obtained randomly. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the disk diffusion method. Multilocus sequencing type, phylogenetic groups, antimicrobial resistance genes, and virulence genes were detected by polymerase chain reaction. In our study, no carbapenem-resistant isolates were found, but fluoroquinolone-resistant and multi-drug resistant UPEC accounted for 62.25% and 42.38%, respectively. The phylogenetic group B2 (58.94%) predominated, followed by phylogenetic group D (26.49%). The most prevalent sequence type was ST1193 (25.83%), which was first reported in Shanghai. The rate of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-positive isolates was 39.74% and the dominant ESBL genotype was blaCTX-M-14 (21/60), followed by blaCTX-M-55 (12/60). Mutations in gyrA were detected in the majority of fluoroquinolone-resistant isolates (90/94), followed by parC (85/94) and parE (71/94). The aac (3) -IIa was also found in 85% of aminoglycoside resistance isolates. Among 151 UPEC isolates, the common virulence genes were csgA (97.35%), fimH (92.72%), sitA (82.12%), and malX (65.56%). In conclusion, the high antimicrobial resistance of UPEC isolated from female patients, harboring a series of virulence genes, are troublesome for medical practitioners in Shanghai. At present, the prevalent ST1193 and emerging blaCTX-M-55 make UTI therapy more challenging.

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Frequency and Characterization of Antimicrobial Resistance and Virulence Genes of Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci from Wild Birds in Spain. Detection of tst-Carrying S. sciuri Isolates

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms8091317 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (9) ◽

pp. 1317

Author(s):

Laura Ruiz-Ripa ◽

Paula Gómez ◽

Carla Andrea Alonso ◽

María Cruz Camacho ◽

Yolanda Ramiro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Virulence Genes ◽

Meca Gene ◽

Virulence Gene ◽

Wild Birds ◽

Diffusion Method ◽

Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽

Disk Diffusion Method ◽

Resistance Phenotype ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance Genes

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and diversity of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) species from wild birds in Spain, as well as to analyze the antimicrobial resistance phenotype/genotype and the virulence gene content. During 2015–2016, tracheal samples of 242 wild birds were collected in different regions of Spain for staphylococci recovery. The species identification was performed using MALDI-TOF. The antimicrobial resistance phenotype and genotype was investigated by the disk diffusion method and by PCR, respectively. The presence of the virulence genes lukF/S-PV, tst, eta, etb, etd and scn was investigated by PCR. Moreover, CoNS carrying the mecA gene were subjected to SCCmec typing. Of the tested animals, 60% were CoNS-carriers, and 173 CoNS isolates were recovered from the 146 positive animals, which belonged to 11 species, with predominance of S. sciuri (n = 118) and S. lentus (n = 25). A total of 34% of CoNS isolates showed a multidrug resistance phenotype, and 42 mecA-positive methicillin-resistant CoNS (MRCoNS) were detected. The isolates showed resistance to the following antimicrobials (percentage of resistant isolates/antimicrobial resistance genes detected): penicillin (49/ blaZ, mecA), cefoxitin (24/ mecA), erythromycin and/or clindamycin (92/ erm(B), erm(C), erm(43), msr(A), mph(C), lnu(A), lsa(B), vga(A) and sal(A)), gentamicin and/or tobramycin (5/ aac(6′)-Ie-aph(2″)-Ia, ant(4′)-Ia), streptomycin (12/str), tetracycline (17/ tet(K), tet(L), tet(M)), ciprofloxacin (4), chloramphenicol (1/ fexA), fusidic acid (86/ fusB, fusD) and trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole (1/ dfrK). None of the isolates harbored the lukF/S-PV, eta, etb, etd and scn genes, but two S. sciuri isolates (1%) carried the tst gene. Wild birds are frequently colonized by CoNS species, especially S. sciuri. We identified scavenging on intensively produced livestock and feeding on landfills as risk factors for CoNS carriage. High proportions of MRCoNS and multidrug resistant CoNS were detected, which coupled with the presence of important virulence genes is of concern.

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Distinct Characteristics of Escherichia coli Isolated from Patients with Urinary Tract Infections in a Medical Center at a Ten-Year Interval

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10091156 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 1156

Author(s):

Wei-Hung Lin ◽

Yen-Zhen Zhang ◽

Po-Yao Liu ◽

Po-Shun Chen ◽

Shining Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Urinary Tract ◽

Urinary Tract Infections ◽

Bacterial Infections ◽

Medical Center ◽

Phylogenetic Group ◽

Diffusion Method ◽

Disk Diffusion Method ◽

E Coli ◽

Tract Infections

Escherichia coli causing urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common outpatient bacterial infections. This study aimed to compare the characteristics of E. coli isolated from UTI patients in a single medical center in 2009–2010 (n = 504) and 2020 (n = 340). The antimicrobial susceptibility of E. coli was determined by the disk diffusion method. PCRs were conducted to detect phylogenetic groups, ST131, K1 capsule antigen, and 15 virulence factors. Phylogenetic group B2 dominated in our 2009–2010 and 2020 isolates. Moreover, no phylogenetic group E strains were isolated in 2020. E. coli isolates in 2020 were more susceptible to amoxicillin, ampicillin/sulbactam, cefuroxime, cefmetazole, ceftazidime, cefoxitin, tetracycline, and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, compared to the isolates in 2009–2010. Extensively drug-resistant (XDR)-E. coli in 2009–2010 were detected in groups B1 (5 isolates), B2 (12 isolates), F (8 isolates), and unknown (1 isolate). In 2020, XDR-E. coli were only detected in groups A (2 isolates), B2 (5 isolates), D (1 isolate), and F (4 isolates). The prevalence of virulence factor genes aer and fimH were higher in E. coli in 2009–2010 compared to those in 2020. In contrast, afa and sat showed higher frequencies in E. coli isolates in 2020 compared to E. coli in 2009–2010.

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Molecular characterization of antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes of Escherichia coli isolates from bovine mastitis

Veterinary World ◽

10.14202/vetworld.2020.1588-1593 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (8) ◽

pp. 1588-1593

Author(s):

Zuhair Bani Ismail ◽

Sameeh M. Abutarbush

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Shiga Toxin ◽

Virulence Genes ◽

Bovine Mastitis ◽

Virulence Gene ◽

Diffusion Method ◽

Disk Diffusion Method ◽

E Coli ◽

Procaine Penicillin

Background and Aim: Mastitis is a common and economically important disease in dairy cattle. It remains one of the most common reasons for the extensive use of antimicrobials in dairy farms leading to the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens. The aim of this study was to determine the patterns of antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli isolates from bovine mastitis and to identify prominent antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes among isolated strains. Materials and Methods: Antimicrobial susceptibility testing against six antibiotic groups, including tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, beta-lactams, macrolides, sulfonamides, and fluoroquinolones was performed using the disk diffusion method. PCR was performed on resistant isolates to detect resistance and virulence genes using commercially available primers. Results: Out of 216 milk samples cultured, 14 samples yielded E. coli isolates. All isolates (100%) were resistant to ampicillin, amoxicillin, procaine penicillin, streptomycin, oxytetracycline, and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. Only one isolate (7%) was sensitive to gentamicin, and all isolates (100%) were sensitive to enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin. All isolates carried at least one resistance gene against one or more of the major antibiotic groups. All isolates carried the ereA, tetG, tetE, and tetB genes, followed by tetA (93%), ampC (86%), strA (86%), sul1 (78%), tetD (71%), tetC (57%), aadA (57%), and strB (36%). The lowest percentage of isolates carried bla1 (17%) and bla2 (12%) genes, and none of the isolates carried the qnrA gene. Most of the isolates (93%) carried the Shiga toxin 1 virulence gene, followed by complement resistance protein (79%), intimin (64%), Shiga toxin 2 (36%), cytotoxic necrotizing factor (35%), aerotaxis receptor (21%), and type 1 fimbriae (15%). Conclusion: Results of this study indicate that the high percentages of E. coli isolate from bovine mastitis are resistant to two or more of the major antibiotic groups, irrespective of the presence or absence of relevant resistance or virulence genes.

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Phenotypic Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Escherichia coli from Raw Meats, Ready-to-Eat Meats, and Their Related Samples in One Health Context

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9020326 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 326

Author(s):

Frederick Adzitey ◽

Nurul Huda ◽

Amir Husni Mohd Shariff

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Antimicrobial Susceptibility ◽

Resistance Index ◽

Diffusion Method ◽

Resistant Bacteria ◽

Disk Diffusion Method ◽

E Coli ◽

The Usa ◽

Raw Meats

Meat is an important food source that can provide a significant amount of protein for human development. The occurrence of bacteria that are resistant to antimicrobials in meat poses a public health risk. This study evaluated the occurrence and antimicrobial resistance of E. coli (Escherichia coli) isolated from raw meats, ready-to-eat (RTE) meats and their related samples in Ghana. E. coli was isolated using the USA-FDA Bacteriological Analytical Manual and phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed by the disk diffusion method. Of the 200 examined meats and their related samples, 38% were positive for E. coli. Notably, E. coli was highest in raw beef (80%) and lowest in RTE pork (0%). The 45 E. coli isolates were resistant ≥ 50% to amoxicillin, trimethoprim and tetracycline. They were susceptible to azithromycin (87.1%), chloramphenicol (81.3%), imipenem (74.8%), gentamicin (72.0%) and ciprofloxacin (69.5%). A relatively high intermediate resistance of 33.0% was observed for ceftriaxone. E. coli from raw meats, RTE meats, hands of meat sellers and working tools showed some differences and similarities in their phenotypic antimicrobial resistance patterns. Half (51.1%) of the E. coli isolates exhibited multidrug resistance. The E. coli isolates showed twenty-two different resistant patterns, with a multiple antibiotic resistance index of 0.0 to 0.7. The resistant pattern amoxicillin (A, n = 6 isolates) and amoxicillin-trimethoprim (A-TM, n = 6 isolates) were the most common. This study documents that raw meats, RTE meats and their related samples in Ghana are potential sources of antimicrobial-resistant E. coli and pose a risk for the transfer of resistant bacteria to the food chain, environment and humans.

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Multi-omic surveillance of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. in hospital sink drains and patients

10.1101/2020.02.19.952366 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

B Constantinides ◽

KK Chau ◽

TP Quan ◽

G Rodger ◽

M Andersson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Resistance Genes ◽

Bacterial Infections ◽

Wide Spectrum ◽

Klebsiella Oxytoca ◽

Clinical Disease ◽

E Coli ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance Genes ◽

Wide Range

ABSTRACTEscherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. are important human pathogens that cause a wide spectrum of clinical disease. In healthcare settings, sinks and other wastewater sites have been shown to be reservoirs of antimicrobial-resistant E. coli and Klebsiella spp., particularly in the context of outbreaks of resistant strains amongst patients. Without focusing exclusively on resistance markers or a clinical outbreak, we demonstrate that many hospital sink drains are abundantly and persistently colonised with diverse populations of E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Klebsiella oxytoca, including both antimicrobial-resistant and susceptible strains. Using whole genome sequencing (WGS) of 439 isolates, we show that environmental bacterial populations are largely structured by ward and sink, with only a handful of lineages, such as E. coli ST635, being widely distributed, suggesting different prevailing ecologies which may vary as a result of different inputs and selection pressures. WGS of 46 contemporaneous patient isolates identified one (2%; 95% CI 0.05-11%) E. coli urine infection-associated isolate with high similarity to a prior sink isolate, suggesting that sinks may contribute to up to 10% of infections caused by these organisms in patients on the ward over the same timeframe. Using metagenomics from 20 sink-timepoints, we show that sinks also harbour many clinically relevant antimicrobial resistance genes including blaCTX-M, blaSHV and mcr, and may act as niches for the exchange and amplification of these genes. Our study reinforces the potential role of sinks in contributing to Enterobacterales infection and antimicrobial resistance in hospital patients, something that could be amenable to intervention.IMPORTANCEEscherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. cause a wide range of bacterial infections, including bloodstream, urine and lung infections. Previous studies have shown that sink drains in hospitals may be part of transmission chains in outbreaks of antimicrobial-resistant E. coli and Klebsiella spp., leading to colonisation and clinical disease in patients. We show that even in non-outbreak settings, contamination of sink drains by these bacteria is common across hospital wards, and that many antimicrobial resistance genes can be found and potentially exchanged in these sink drain sites. Our findings demonstrate that the colonisation of handwashing sink drains by these bacteria in hospitals is likely contributing to some infections in patients, and that additional work is needed to further quantify this risk, and to consider appropriate mitigating interventions.

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Molecular characterisation of antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes in Escherichia coli strains isolated from diarrhoeic and healthy rabbits in Tunisia

World Rabbit Science ◽

10.4995/wrs.2020.10879 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 81

Author(s):

Raouia Ben Rhouma ◽

Ahlem Jouini ◽

Amira Klibi ◽

Safa Hamrouni ◽

Aziza Boubaker ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Virulence Genes ◽

Antimicrobial Agents ◽

Antibiotic Resistance Genes ◽

Virulence Gene ◽

Diffusion Method ◽

Class 1 Integron ◽

E Coli ◽

Class 1

The purpose of this study was to identify Escherichia coli isolates in diarrhoeic and healthy rabbits in Tunisia and characterise their virulence and antibiotic resistance genes. In the 2014-2015 period, 60 faecal samples from diarrhoeic and healthy rabbits were collected from different breeding farms in Tunisia. Susceptibility to 14 antimicrobial agents was tested by disc diffusion method and the mechanisms of gene resistance were evaluated using polymerase chain reaction and sequencing methods. Forty E. coli isolates were recovered in selective media. High frequency of resistance to tetracycline (95%) was detected, followed by different levels of resistance to sulphonamide (72.5%), streptomycin (62.5%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (60%), nalidixic acid (32.5%), ampicillin (37.5%) and ticarcillin (35%). E. coli strains were susceptible to cefotaxime, ceftazidime and imipenem. Different variants of blaTEM, tet, sul genes were detected in most of the strains resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline and sulphonamide, respectively. The presence of class 1 integron was studied in 29 sulphonamide-resistant E. coli strains from which 15 harboured class 1 integron with four different arrangements of gene cassettes, dfrA17+aadA5 (n=9), dfrA1 + aadA1 (n=4), dfrA12 + addA2 (n=1), dfrA12+orf+addA2 (n=1). The qnrB gene was detected in six strains out of 13 quinolone-resistant E. coli strains. Seventeen E. coli isolates from diarrhoeic rabbits harboured the enteropathogenic eae genes associated with different virulence genes tested (fimA, cnf1, aer), and affiliated to B2 (n=8) and D (n=9) phylogroups. Isolated E. coli strains from healthy rabbit were harbouring fim A and/or cnf1 genes and affiliated to A and B1 phylogroups. This study showed that E. coli strains from the intestinal tract of rabbits are resistant to the widely prescribed antibiotics in medicine. Therefore, they constitute a reservoir of antimicrobial-resistant genes, which may play a significant role in the spread of antimicrobial resistance. In addition, the eae virulence gene seemed to be implicated in diarrhoea in breeder rabbits in Tunisia.

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Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Escherichia coli from Diarrheic Weaned Piglets after the Ban on Antibiotic Growth Promoters in Feed

Antibiotics ◽

10.3390/antibiotics9110755 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 755 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Do Kyung-Hyo ◽

Byun Jae-Won ◽

Lee Wan-Kyu

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Diffusion Method ◽

Growth Promoters ◽

Disk Diffusion Method ◽

Pathogenic Escherichia Coli ◽

Before And After ◽

Amoxicillin Clavulanic Acid ◽

Antibiotic Growth Promoters ◽

Polymerase Chain

This study aimed to survey the antimicrobial resistance profiles of 690 pathogenic Escherichia coli isolates obtained from Korean pigs with symptoms of enteric colibacillosis between 2007 and 2017, while assessing the change in antimicrobial resistance profiles before and after the ban on antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs). Following the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines, the antimicrobial resistance phenotype was analyzed through the disk diffusion method, and the genotype was analyzed by the polymerase chain reaction. After the ban on AGPs, resistance to gentamicin (from 68.8% to 39.0%), neomycin (from 84.9% to 57.8%), ciprofloxacin (from 49.5% to 39.6%), norfloxacin (from 46.8% to 37.3%), and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (from 40.8% to 23.5%) decreased compared to before the ban. However, resistance to cephalothin (from 51.4% to 66.5%), cefepime (from 0.0% to 2.4%), and colistin (from 7.3% to 11.0%) had increased. We confirmed a high percentage of multidrug resistance before (95.0%) and after (96.6%) the ban on AGPs. The AmpC gene was the most prevalent from 2007 to 2017 (60.0%), followed by the blaTEM gene (55.5%). The blaTEM was prevalent before (2007–2011, 69.3%) and after (2012–2017, 49.2%) the ban on AGPs. These results provide data that can be used for the prevention and treatment of enteric colibacillosis.

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Virulence-Associated Genes and Antimicrobial Resistance of Aeromonas hydrophila Isolates from Animal, Food, and Human Sources in Brazil

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2020/1052607 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Emily Moraes Roges ◽

Verônica Dias Gonçalves ◽

Maira Duarte Cardoso ◽

Marcia Lima Festivo ◽

Salvatore Siciliano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Aeromonas Hydrophila ◽

Pathogenic Bacteria ◽

Virulence Genes ◽

Animal Health ◽

Diffusion Method ◽

Aquatic Environments ◽

Disk Diffusion Method ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Human Source

Aeromonads are natural inhabitants of aquatic environments and may be associated with various human or animal diseases. Its pathogenicity is complex and multifactorial and is associated with many virulence factors. In this study, 110 selected Aeromonas hydrophila isolates isolated from food, animals, and human clinical material from 2010 to 2015 were analyzed. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by the disk diffusion method, and polymerase chain reaction was conducted to investigate the virulence genes hemolysin (hlyA), cytotoxic enterotoxin (act), heat-labile cytotonic enterotoxin (alt), aerolysin (aerA), and DNase-nuclease (exu). At least 92.7% of the isolates had one of the investigated virulence genes. Twenty different virulence profiles among the isolates were recognized, and the five investigated virulence genes were observed in four isolates. Human source isolates showed greater diversity than food and animal sources. Antimicrobial resistance was observed in 46.4% of the isolates, and multidrug resistance was detected in 3.6% of the isolates. Among the 120 isolates, 45% were resistant to cefoxitin; 23.5% to nalidixic acid; 16.6% to tetracycline; 13.7% to cefotaxime and imipenem; 11.8% to ceftazidime; 5.9% to amikacin, gentamicin, and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim; and 3.9% to ciprofloxacin and nitrofurantoin. Overall, the findings of our study indicated the presence of virulence genes and that antimicrobial resistance in A. hydrophila isolates in this study is compatible with potentially pathogenic bacteria. This information will allow us to recognize the potential risk through circulating isolates in animal health and public health and the spread through the food chain offering subsidies for appropriate sanitary actions.

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Staphylococci among Wild European Rabbits from the Azores: A Potential Zoonotic Issue?

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-19-423 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 83 (7) ◽

pp. 1110-1114 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

MARGARIDA SOUSA ◽

VANESSA SILVA ◽

ADRIANA SILVA ◽

NUNO SILVA ◽

JESSICA RIBEIRO ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Resistance Genes ◽

Meca Gene ◽

Diffusion Method ◽

Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽

Spa Typing ◽

Disk Diffusion Method ◽

Genetic Lineages ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance Genes ◽

European Rabbits

ABSTRACT The prevalence and diversity of Staphylococcus species from wild European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in the Azores were investigated, and the antibiotic resistance phenotype and genotype of the isolates were determined. Nasal samples from 77 wild European rabbits from São Jorge and São Miguel islands in Azores were examined. Antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates was determined using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method, and the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence factors was determined by PCR. The genetic lineages of S. aureus isolates were characterized by spa typing and multilocus sequence typing. A total of 49 staphylococci were obtained from 35 of the 77 wild rabbits. Both coagulase-positive (8.2%) and coagulase-negative (91.8%) staphylococci were detected: 4 S. aureus, 17 S. fleurettii, 13 S. sciuri, 7 S. xylosus, 4 S. epidermidis, and 1 each of S. simulans, S. saprophyticus, S. succinus, and S. equorum. The four S. aureus isolates showed methicillin susceptibility and were characterized as spa type t272/CC121, Panton-Valentine leukocidin negative, and hlB positive. Most of the coagulase-negative staphylococci showed resistance to fusidic acid and beta-lactams, and multidrug resistance was identified especially among S. epidermidis isolates. The mecA gene was detected in 20 isolates of the species S. fleurettii and S. epidermidis, associated with the blaZ gene in one S. epidermidis isolate. Five antimicrobial resistance genes were detected in one S. epidermidis isolate (mecA,dfrA,dfrG,aac6′-aph2′′, and ant4). Our results highlight that wild rabbits are reservoirs or “temporary hosts” of Staphylococcus species with zoonotic potential, some of them carrying relevant antimicrobial resistances. HIGHLIGHTS

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Antibiotic resistance and virulence genes of extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli from tropical estuary, south India

The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries ◽

10.3855/jidc.5627 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 9 (05) ◽

pp. 496-504 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Divya Sukumaran ◽

Abdulla A Mohamed Hatha

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Antibiotic Resistance ◽

Multidrug Resistance ◽

Virulence Factor ◽

Virulence Genes ◽

Antimicrobial Agents ◽

Diffusion Method ◽

Disk Diffusion Method ◽

E Coli ◽

Virulence Factor Genes

Introduction: Escherichia coli strains can cause a variety of intestinal and extraintestinal diseases. Extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) strains have the ability to cause severe extraintestinal infections. Multidrug resistance among ExPEC could complicate human infections. Methodology: Escherichia coli strains were isolated during the period of January 2010 to December 2012 from five different stations set at Cochin estuary. Susceptibility testing was determined by the disk-diffusion method using nine different antimicrobial agents. A total of 155 strains of Escherichia coli were screened for the presence of virulence factor genes including papAH, papC, sfa/focDE, iutA,and kpsMT II associated with ExPEC. Results: Among the 155 E. coli isolates, 26 (16.77%), carried two or more virulence genes typical of ExPEC. Furthermore, 19.23% of the ExPEC isolates with multidrug resistance were identified to belong to phylogenetic groups B2 and D. Statistically significant association of iutA gene in ExPEC was found with papC (p < 0.001) and kpsMT II (p < 0.001) genes. ExPEC isolates were mainly resistant to ampicillin (23.07%), tetracycline (19.23%), co-trimoxazole (15.38%), and cefotaxime (15.38%). The adhesion genes papAH and sfa/focDE were positively associated with resistance to gentamicin, chloramphenicol, and cefotaxime (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Co-occurrence of virulence factor genes with antibiotic resistance among ExPEC poses considerable threat to those who use this aquatic system for a living and for recreation.

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