Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: A Promising Solution for Controlling the Growth of Gentamicin-Resistant Uropathogenic Escherichia coli

Backgrounds: Uropathogenic Escherichia coli is one of the most important etiological agents of UTI. The aim of this study was to investigate the antibacterial effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) on aminoglycoside-resistant E. coli isolates from patients with UTI. Materials & Methods: After identifying E. coli strains in ۱۰۰ out of ۲۵۰ urine samples, antibiotic susceptibility was evaluated against six antibiotic classes (with emphasis on aminoglycosides) by disk diffusion method according to CLSI-۲۰۲۰ guidelines. The presence of aac (۶')-Ie-aph (۲'') gene in isolates was investigated by PCR. Antibacterial properties and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of zinc oxide nanoparticles were evaluated by agar well diffusion and broth microdilution assays, respectively. Findings: Among ۱۰۰ E. coli isolates, the highest and lowest antibiotic resistance rates were observed against tetracycline (۷۰%) and ofloxacin (۱۰%), respectively. Of ۳۰ gentamicin-resistant E. coli isolates, ۱۷ (۵۶.۵%) isolates harbored the aac (۶')-Ie-aph (۲'') gene. In agar well diffusion assay, ۲۲ (۷۴%) gentamicin-resistant isolates were eliminated by zinc oxide nanoparticles at a concentration of ۱۵۰ mg/L, while ZnONPs at ۳۰۰ mg/L could eliminate all gentamicin-resistant isolates. Furthermore, ZnONPs could inhibit all bacteria at a concentration of ۲۰۰ μg/mL (MIC۹۰ ≥ ۱۰۰). Conclusion: Spread of the aac(۶')-Ie-aph(۲'') gene could increase gentamicin resistance among E. coli strains causing UTI. Given the favorable antibacterial effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles in vitro, the clinical application of these nanoparticles in the treatment of UTIs caused by multidrug-resistant E. coli could be investigated in future studies.  

Keywords:

Aminoglycoside resistance , Uropathogenic Escherichia coli , Zinc oxide