Introduction: Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is a leading cause of community-acquired and healthcare-associated infections, and antimicrobial resistance in
UPEC poses significant challenges to managing these infections. This study aimed to investigate the molecular types of
UPEC using enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus-polymerase chain reaction (ERIC-PCR) and analyze their resistance patterns in a tertiary care setting. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital, where ۶۵ consecutive E. coli isolates from urinary specimens were collected. Isolates were identified biochemically and confirmed by ۱۶S rRNA gene PCR. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was conducted following CLSI guidelines, and molecular typing was performed using ERIC-PCR. ERIC-PCR profiles were analyzed using PAST software version ۴.۰, generating a dendrogram to visualize similarity among ERIC types. Fisher's exact test was used to determine if specific ERIC types were significantly associated with particular antibiotic resistance profiles. Results: The results showed that ۹۵% of the isolates were resistant to at least two antibiotics, with ۹۲.۳% being multidrug resistant (MDR). The highest resistance was observed against ampicillin, while no resistance was seen against colistin and tigecycline. The resistant isolates displayed ۳۶ different antibiograms, indicating a significant degree of resistance variability.
ERIC-PCR typing revealed ۲۲ unique clusters at a similarity coefficient of approximately ۷۰%, highlighting the genetic diversity of
UPEC isolates in our setting. Conclusion: This study enhances the understanding of
UPEC epidemiology in healthcare by revealing the molecular characteristics and resistance profiles of prevalent strains. The high occurrence of
MDR UPEC and the absence of a correlation between ERIC types and antibiograms suggest adaptability and increased resistance. These results highlight the necessity for continuous surveillance to inform infection control measures and direct targeted interventions against the spread of
MDR UPEC.
