R Kadhim Mohammed - Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq

Several strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli) cause many diseases, including gastrointestinal illness, urinary tract infections, pericarditis, and septicemia. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of the Universal Stress Protein (USP) virulence gene and the level of antibiotic resistance patterns associated with biofilm formation of E. coli in patients with infected burns, wounds, and urinary tract infections. Cases were selected from two hospitals of Al-Yarmouk Educational Hospitals and Baghdad Medical City, Baghdad, Iraq. The clinical specimens were classified as E. coli according to CLSI. The frequency of the USP gene was determined using the PCR technique. The rate of biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance were determined using microplate and agar diffusion methods, respectively. The recorded data on the distribution of E. coli isolates indicated that ۳۳ (۶۶%) of isolates were recovered from females and ۱۷ (۳۴%) of them were obtained from males (P=۰.۰۲). The results of the distribution of the isolates indicated that ۱۶ (۳۲%) and ۱۸ (۳۶%) isolates were recovered from ۱۰-۲۰ and ۲۱-۳۰ and ۳۱-۴۰ years old participants, respectively. The recorded data revealed that the highest rate of E. coli isolates was obtained from urine samples while the lowest one was recovered from burn samples (P<۰.۰۰۰۱). The frequency of USP gene distribution from all strains was analyzed by the PCR and gel electrophoresis techniques. The results of the PCR test identified the USP gene (toxin gene) at ۴۳۵ bp. The USP gene was presented in ۴۱ (۸۲%) E. coli isolates of all samples, including ۲۸ isolates (۴۶%) in women and ۱۳ isolates (۲۶%) in men with no significant association. Concerning the distribution due to the age groups, the USP gene was presented in ۱۱ isolates (۲۲%) in the age group of ۱۰-۲۰ years, while ۱۴ (۲۸%) and ۱۶ (۳۲%) isolates in the age groups of (۲۱-۳۰) and (۳۱-۴۰), respectively. Concerning the distribution of samples, the USP gene was presented in ۱ isolate (۲%) from the burn, ۴ isolates (۸%) from the wound, and ۳۶ isolates (۷۲%) from the urine. The microtiter plate method was used to evaluate biofilm formation and the results showed that ۷ (۱۴%), ۲۸ (۵۶%), and ۱۵ (۳۰%) isolates were weakly, moderately, and strongly adherent, respectively. These results filled the national gap about virulence and antimicrobial resistance of E. coli responsible for several diseases and should be used to improve the management of patients in Baghdad.

Antibiotic resistance, biofilm, E. coli, usp gene