The evaluation of antimicrobial resistance rates in infections caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains collected from the south of Lebanon

Background and Objectives: Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is a leading cause of urinary tract infections, which are a significant public health concern worldwide. Antibiotic resistance among UPEC isolates is an increasing challenge, necessitating a better understanding of the resistance patt...

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Main Authors: Sajida Chreim, Seyed Masoud Hosseini, Abdallah Medlej, Mahdi Tarhini
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Tehran University of Medical Sciences 2025-04-01
Series:Iranian Journal of Microbiology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ijm.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijm/article/view/5120
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author Sajida Chreim
Seyed Masoud Hosseini
Abdallah Medlej
Mahdi Tarhini
author_facet Sajida Chreim
Seyed Masoud Hosseini
Abdallah Medlej
Mahdi Tarhini
author_sort Sajida Chreim
collection DOAJ
description Background and Objectives: Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is a leading cause of urinary tract infections, which are a significant public health concern worldwide. Antibiotic resistance among UPEC isolates is an increasing challenge, necessitating a better understanding of the resistance patterns and underlying genetic mechanisms. This study examined the prevalence of antibiotic resistance phenotypes and the detection of specific resistance genes among patients with UPEC infections in Sheikh Ragheb Harb University Hospital in south Lebanon. Materials and Methods: Antimicrobial resistance phenotype of 104 urine samples was tested to determine the resistance percentages for various antibiotics including ampicillin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, bactrim, meropenem, and imipenem using disk diffusion test. Additionally, molecular analysis like polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to detect the presence of blaSHV, qnrA, tetA, dfrA1, aac3, blaOXA and blaIMP resistance genes. Results: The antimicrobial resistance testing revealed the following resistance percentages for various antibiotics: ampicillin (100%), gentamicin (15.38%), ciprofloxacin (34.61%), tetracycline (48.07%), bactrim (17.3%), meropenem (0.96%) and imipenem (0.96%). The analysis of resistance genes showed the presence of blaSHV (7.96%), qnrA (0.96%), tetA (20.19%), and dfrA1 (0.96%) genes, while the aac3, blaOXA, and blaIMP genes were not detected. Conclusion: The high rates of antibiotic resistance observed, particularly to ampicillin and tetracycline, highlight the need for more judicious antibiotic use and the development of alternative treatment strategies to combat UPEC infections. These results can inform antimicrobial stewardship programs and guide the selection of appropriate empiric therapy for urinary tract infections.
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spelling doaj-art-0d5d702191a04c7294faaff2986602642025-08-20T02:11:51ZengTehran University of Medical SciencesIranian Journal of Microbiology2008-32892008-44472025-04-0117210.18502/ijm.v17i2.18386The evaluation of antimicrobial resistance rates in infections caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains collected from the south of LebanonSajida Chreim0Seyed Masoud Hosseini1Abdallah Medlej2Mahdi Tarhini3Department of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, IranDepartment of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, IranDepartment of Research and Academic Affairs, Sheikh Ragheb Harb University Hospital, Lebanese University, Nabatieh, LebanonDepartment of Laboratories, Faculty of Health Sciences, Al Maaref University, Beirut, Lebanon; Department of Laboratories and Blood Bank, Sheikh Ragheb Harb University Hospital, Lebanese University, Nabatieh, Lebanon Background and Objectives: Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is a leading cause of urinary tract infections, which are a significant public health concern worldwide. Antibiotic resistance among UPEC isolates is an increasing challenge, necessitating a better understanding of the resistance patterns and underlying genetic mechanisms. This study examined the prevalence of antibiotic resistance phenotypes and the detection of specific resistance genes among patients with UPEC infections in Sheikh Ragheb Harb University Hospital in south Lebanon. Materials and Methods: Antimicrobial resistance phenotype of 104 urine samples was tested to determine the resistance percentages for various antibiotics including ampicillin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, bactrim, meropenem, and imipenem using disk diffusion test. Additionally, molecular analysis like polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to detect the presence of blaSHV, qnrA, tetA, dfrA1, aac3, blaOXA and blaIMP resistance genes. Results: The antimicrobial resistance testing revealed the following resistance percentages for various antibiotics: ampicillin (100%), gentamicin (15.38%), ciprofloxacin (34.61%), tetracycline (48.07%), bactrim (17.3%), meropenem (0.96%) and imipenem (0.96%). The analysis of resistance genes showed the presence of blaSHV (7.96%), qnrA (0.96%), tetA (20.19%), and dfrA1 (0.96%) genes, while the aac3, blaOXA, and blaIMP genes were not detected. Conclusion: The high rates of antibiotic resistance observed, particularly to ampicillin and tetracycline, highlight the need for more judicious antibiotic use and the development of alternative treatment strategies to combat UPEC infections. These results can inform antimicrobial stewardship programs and guide the selection of appropriate empiric therapy for urinary tract infections. https://ijm.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijm/article/view/5120Urinary tract infection;Uropathogenic Escherichia coli;Antibiotic resistance;Resistance genes;Polymerase chain reaction
spellingShingle Sajida Chreim
Seyed Masoud Hosseini
Abdallah Medlej
Mahdi Tarhini
The evaluation of antimicrobial resistance rates in infections caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains collected from the south of Lebanon
Iranian Journal of Microbiology
Urinary tract infection;
Uropathogenic Escherichia coli;
Antibiotic resistance;
Resistance genes;
Polymerase chain reaction
title The evaluation of antimicrobial resistance rates in infections caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains collected from the south of Lebanon
title_full The evaluation of antimicrobial resistance rates in infections caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains collected from the south of Lebanon
title_fullStr The evaluation of antimicrobial resistance rates in infections caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains collected from the south of Lebanon
title_full_unstemmed The evaluation of antimicrobial resistance rates in infections caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains collected from the south of Lebanon
title_short The evaluation of antimicrobial resistance rates in infections caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains collected from the south of Lebanon
title_sort evaluation of antimicrobial resistance rates in infections caused by uropathogenic escherichia coli strains collected from the south of lebanon
topic Urinary tract infection;
Uropathogenic Escherichia coli;
Antibiotic resistance;
Resistance genes;
Polymerase chain reaction
url https://ijm.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijm/article/view/5120
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