<p>Prevalence of Virulence Genes and Their Association with Antimicrobial Resistance Among Pathogenic <em>E. coli</em> Isolated from Egyptian Patients with Different Clinical Infections</p>

Abstract

Introduction: Escherichia (E.) coli can cause intestinal and extra-intestinal infections which ranged from mild to life-threatening infections. The severity of infection is a product of many factors including virulence properties and antimicrobial resistance. Objectives: To determine the antibiotic resistance pattern, the distribution of virulence factors and their association with one another and with some selected resistance genes. Methods: Virulence properties were analyzed phenotypically while antimicrobial susceptibility was tested by Kirby-Bauer agar disc diffusion method. In addition, 64 E. coli isolates were tested for 6 colicin genes, fimH, hlyA, traT, csgA, crl virulence genes and bla −CTX-M-15 , bla −oxa-2 , and bla −oxa-10 resistance genes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli isolated from urine and blood samples represented a battery of virulence factors and resistance genes with a great ability to produce biofilm. Also, a significant association (P<0.05) among most of the tested colicin, virulence and resistance genes was observed. The observed associations indicate the importance and contribution of the tested factors in the establishment and the progress of infection especially with Extra-intestinal E. coli (ExPEC) which is considered a great challenging health problem. Conclusion: There is a need for studying how to control these factors to decrease the rate and the severity of infections. The relationship between virulence factors and resistance genes is complex and needs more studies that should be specific for each area.

Antibiotic Susceptibility, Virulome, and Clinical Outcomes in European Infants with Bloodstream Infections Caused by Enterobacterales

“…By contrast, a positive correlation has been shown between AMR and virulence with the use of other antibiotics. In particular, uropathogenic strains of E. coli carrying the blaCTX-M-15 resistance gene also harbored more colV, colE2-E9, colIa-Ib, hlyA, and csgA genes as well as the blaOXA-2 beta lactamase was correlated with increased expression of colM, colB, colE, and crl genes [44]. Prophages are another mechanism that has been shown to be involved in both virulence and resistance diffusion through the spread of toxins to other resistant strains [45].…”

Relationship between Virulence and Resistance among Gram-Negative Bacteria

“…UPEC strains carrying the bla CTX-M15 presented more colV , colE2-E9 , colIa-Ib , hlyA , and csgA genes. On the other hand, some UPEC strains present bla OXA-2 beta lactamase together with presence of colM, colB, colE , and crl genes [ 28 ]. It has been reported that tetA and tetB positive E. coli strains more often carry the virulence factors for P- fimbriae and aerobactin than susceptible strains [ 29 ].…”

Genetic Determinants of Resistance to Extended-Spectrum Cephalosporin and Fluoroquinolone in Escherichia coli Isolated from Diseased Pigs in the United States

“…In addition to the above-mentioned properties, IncF plasmids also possessed virulence genes which can contribute to the fitness of bacterial clones inside mammalian hosts. For example, the traT gene related to serum resistance was found on every bla CTX-M -harboring IncF plasmid, except for IncF (F24:A-:B1), and this gene has been consistently associated with urinary tract infections and sepsis in humans (71)(72)(73)(74). Similarly, hlyF (hemolysin), iutA (iron uptake), and ompT (outer membrane protease) genes present on some of the bla CTX-M -IncF plasmids are very commonly found in avian pathogenic E. coli (75).…”