Escherichia coli strains frequently are isolated from skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI); however, their virulence potential has not yet been extensively studied. In the present study, we characterized 102 E. coli SSTI strains isolated mostly from surgical and traumatic wounds, foot ulcers, and decubitus. The strains were obtained from the Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. Phylogenetic backgrounds, virulence factors (VFs), and antibiotic resistance profiles were determined. Correlations between VFs and phylogenetic groups were established and analyzed with regard to patient factors. Further, the associations of the three most prevalent antibiotic resistance patterns with virulence potential were analyzed. Our results showed that the majority of the studied strains (65%) belonged to the B2 phylogenetic group. The most prevalent VF was ompT (80%), while toxin genes cnf1 and hlyA were found with prevalences of 32 and 30%, respectively. None of the investigated bacterial characteristics were significantly associated with patient gender, age, type of infection, or immunodeficiency. The most prevalent antibiotic resistance pattern was resistance to ampicillin (46%), followed by resistance to tetracycline (25%) and fluoroquinolones (21%). Strains resistant to ciprofloxacin exhibited a significantly reduced prevalence of cnf1 (P < 0.05) and usp (P < 0.01). Our study revealed that E. coli isolates from SSTIs exhibit a remarkable virulence potential that is comparable to that of E. coli isolates from urinary tract infections and bacteremia.Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) are one of the most common infections in patients of all age groups. Infections mostly are self limited or can be treated with antibiotics. However, moderate or severe cases may require hospitalization and parenteral therapy (30). The most common causative agents are Staphylococcus aureus and aerobic streptococci (9, 10, 41, 43). However, several reports associating the enterobacterium Escherichia coli with SSTI have been published: E. coli was found to be the causative agent of neonatal omphalitis (7), cellulitis localized to lower or upper limbs (4, 6, 49), necrotizing fasciitis (1,25,28), surgical site infections (44), infections after burn injuries (37), and others. A study monitoring SSTIs during a 7-year period and encompassing three continents (Europe, Latin America, and North America) showed E. coli to be an important causative agent, since it was the third-most prevalent isolated species, preceded solely by S. aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The beta-hemolytic Streptococcus sp. group was only the 7th-ranked pathogen in North America and Europe and was 10th in Latin America in terms of prevalence (30). E. coli isolates from SSTI therefore merit detailed studies, especially taking into account the dramatic decline in antibiotic susceptibility of pathogenic E. coli strains in recent years. Despite the need for the characterization of E. coli strains from SSTI, to our knowledge only a single E...

One hundred and ten UTI Escherichia coli strains, from Ljubljana, Slovenia, were analyzed for antibiotic resistances, mobile DNA elements, serotype, and phylogenetic origin. A high prevalence of drug resistance and multidrug resistance was found. Twenty-six percent of the isolates harbored a class 1 integron, while a majority of the strains (56%) harbored rep sequences characteristic of F-like plasmids. int as well as rep sequences were found to be distributed in a random manner among strains of the four major phylogenetic groups indicating that all groups have a similar tendency to acquire and maintain mobile genetic elements frequently associated with resistance determinants.

Escherichia coli may innocuously colonize the intestine of healthy subjects or may instigate infections in the gut or in other districts. This study investigated intestinal E. coli isolated from 20 healthy adults. Fifty-one strains were genotyped by molecular fingerprinting and analyzed for genetic and phenotypic traits, encompassing the profile of antibiotic resistance, biofilm production, the presence of surface structures (such as curli and cellulose), and their performance as recipients in conjugation experiments. A phylogroup classification and analysis of 34 virulence determinants, together with genes associated to the pks island (polyketide-peptide genotoxin colibactin) and conjugative elements, was performed. Most of the strains belonged to the phylogroups B1 and B2. The different phylogroups were separated in a principal coordinate space, considering both genetic and functional features, but not considering pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Within the B2 and F strains, 12 shared the pattern of virulence genes with potential uropathogens. Forty-nine strains were sensitive to all the tested antibiotics. Strains similar to the potential pathogens innocuously inhabited the gut of healthy subjects. However, they may potentially act as etiologic agents of extra-intestinal infections and are susceptible to a wide range of antibiotics. Nevertheless, there is still the possibility to control infections with antibiotic therapy.

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