Evaluating the prevalence of plasmid- mediated quinolone resistant and ESBL- production in Uropathogenic Escherichia coli and the commensal gut microbiota in pregnant women: A comparative analysis
Abstract Background: ß-lactam and fluoroquinolone antibiotics are frequently prescribed for urinary tract infections (UTIs). This study aimed to determine the prevalence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) and extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) in E. coli from UTIs in comparison with the E. coli isolates from gut microbiota (fecal flora).Methods: A total of 54 E. coli urine isolates and 54 E. coli fecal flora isolates were collected from pregnant women (same host) from April to September 2018. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was determined by disk diffusion method. ESBLs were detected via double-disk test (DDST). ESBL and PMQR-encoding genes were identified, using PCR.Results: The highest resistance rate was found against nalidixic acid (42 isolates in urinary and 41 in fecal flora isolates) and the lowest resistance rate belonged to levofloxacin (23 isolates) and ofloxacin (25 isolates) in urinary and fecal flora isolates. The most prevalent PMQR genes were qnrS (29 isolates in urinary and 34 in fecal flora isolates) followed by qnrB, aac (6′)- Ib-cr and qnrA in urinary and fecal flora isolates. There was a significant association between qnrS gene and blaTEM in urinary and fecal flora isolates.Conclusions: Resistance to quinolones antibiotics was highest among fecal flora isolates, especially qnrS among other determinants of the qnr gene. In addition, it seems that high load of PMQR genes in commensal flora has a potential to spread to pathogenic organisms.