• Prevalence of integrons and ESBL genes and their relationship with FimH gene in multidrug resistant uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolates from urinary tract infections
  • Sama Delfanian,1 Saman Hakimian,2,*
    1. M.sc student of Microbiology Islamic Azad University Mazandaran,Tonekabon,Iran,Tehran
    2. M.sc student of Microbiology Islamic Azad University Central Tehran Branch,Iran,Tehran


  • Introduction: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common bacterial infections globally, influencing 150 million individuals every year around the world. Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the most common causative agent of UTI. Emergence of multidrug-resistant isolates is the caused by excessive and inappropriate use of antibiotics. UPEC generally use various adhesins to binding and invading bladder cell. Type 1 fimbriae (FimH) is one of the most common fimbriae appear to play a role in inter-bacterial binding and biofilm formation. In fact biofilm formation seems provides an promoted growth and persistence of bacteria resulting in resistance to antibiotics.
  • Methods: Integrons are mobile genetic elements play that important role in the development of antibiotic-resistance strains. On the other hand, extended-spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) are a group of enzymes that usually resistant to various antibiotics. The ESBL genes can be carried by integron-containing isolates to make them multidrug resistance. The prevalence of class 1, 2, 3 integrons and ESBL genes and fimH gene was verified by the PCR method. Antimicrobial susceptibility of UPEC isolates was performed using disc diffusion method. biofilm formation was investigated using microplate method. The findings indicated that MDR and non MDR isolates tended respectively to form weak and strong biofilms, formation. A high prevalence of fimH and PAP genes was found. In strains that were resistant to ampicillin, a significant correlate with biofilm producers was present. Another study showed that there was no significant reduction in biofilm in ampicillin sensitive strains. Antibiotic susceptibility testing showed that resistance among ESBLs producers was significantly higher than non-ESBLs producers.
  • Results: The prevalence of integrons and ESBLs are remarkably associated with resistance to used antibiotics. These findings indicated that the significant between MDR phenotype and the potential for biofilm formation will lead to relapse of infection. Therefore, more investigations can be effective on the treatment of antibiotic resistance.
  • Conclusion: Moreover there was a significant correlation between ciprofloxacin and reduction in biofilm biomass.
  • Keywords: UTI, Escherichia coli, biofilm, integron, MDR