Viability and survival capability of quinolone-resistant uropathogenic Escherichia coli

Abstract

Uropathogenic strains of E. coli isolated from urine of patients with urinary tract infections were tested for antibiotic sensitivity using bio-Merieux kits and ATB-UR 5 expression system. The virulence of strains was evaluated by serum bactericidal assay, macrophage "killing" and bacterial adhesive tests. Survival capability of strains was assessed under starvation in saline. The results showed that quinolone-resistant uropathogenic strains of E. coli exhibit significantly reduced adhesive potential but relatively high resistance to serum and macrophage bactericidity. In contrast to laboratory strains, the quinolone-resistant uropathogenic clinical isolate demonstrated increased viability during starvation in saline. Our study suggests that quinolone-resistant uropathogenic strains are highly adaptable clones of E. coli, which can exhibit compensatory viability potential under unfavorable conditions. The clinical occurrence of such phenotypes is likely to contribute to the survival, persistence and spread strategy of resistant bacteria.

Detection of Colony Adhesion Factors and Genetic Background of Adhesion Genes Among Multidrug-Resistant Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Isolated in Iraq

“…Type I pili, are mediated and expressed by a fim gene cluster in the most of UPEC strains 7 . pap genes coded P pili (pyelonephritis-associated pili, PAP), which have essential role in upper UTIs 8 and S fimbrial adhesion (sfa) 9 . UTI multi-drug resistant E. coli has gradually increased.…”