Abstract

Distribution of class 1 and 2 integrons among multi drug resistant Escherichia coli isolated from hospitalized patients with urinary tract in Cairo, Egypt

Author(s): Mounir M.Salem, Magdy Muharram, Ibrahim M.Alhosiny

Resistance pattern was performed by the disc diffusion method for 320 urine specimens collected fromurinary tract infection (UTI) patients. Plasmid DNA from multi drug resistant (MDR) isolated E. coli strains was tested for class 1 and 2 integrons by PCR compared to other isolated strains. E. coli was accounted for 58.75 % of all strains. Strains of E. coli were 100%resistant to ampicillin, amoxicillin, cephalexin and chloramphenicol. All strains contained multiple number of plasmids ranged from 3 to 6 and appeared in 84%of E. coli strains. Int1 gene yielded a DNA fragment of 1.9 kb upon amplification by PCR and represented in 56% of E. coli isolates. The strong association observed between plasmid profiles and drug resistance patterns suggest that plasmids have epidemiological significance. Arelatively high occurrence of class 1 integrons in E. coli strains (54%) suggests a correlation between theMDR behavior and the presence of transferable elements of these strains. Imipenem, gemifloxacin and gentamicin could be used for initial therapy for MDR E. coli mediated UTIs. Such studies are essential to determine the current guidelines for empirical therapy regimens which vary by location and helpful in the establishment of effective infection control measures.