The prevalence of type 3 fimbriae in Uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from clinical urine samples

Introduction: Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) strains as the pioneer bacterial agents causing urinary tract infections (UTIs) bear a genomic pool consisting of flexible and adaptive genetic elements. Due to this fact, the aim of this survey was to find out the prevalence of mrk genes, antimicrobial resistant strains and ESBL producers among the isolated UPEC pathotypes from the collected clinical urine samples. Material and methods: 100 urine samples were collected during a period of nine months (April 20th 2019 to January 20th 2020). Then, the UPEC strains were isolated and recognized by the standard biochemical assays. The PCR and electrophoresis were run to detect the presence of mrk genes. The antimicrobial susceptibility assay and the test for phenotypic detection of ESBL were also performed. Results: Only 2% of UPEC pathotypes isolated from patients with non-catheter-associated UTIs (NCAUTIs) were armed with mrkD gene. No significant correlations were detected between gender and carrying UPEC with mrkD gene, between gender and bacterial antibiotic resistance, between ESBL producing characteristic and bacterial antibiotic resistance, between mrkD gene and UTI and between mrkD gene and antibiotic resistance. Conclusions: Most strains of UPEC pathotypes causing NCAUTIs were not found to be armed with type 3 fimbriae. There is neither regular pattern for drug resistance nor ESBL production in UPEC pathotypes. Moreover, the result of multiplex PCR technique is much more accurate, time-consuming and economic in comparison with monoplex PCR technique.