Isolation and molecular characteristics of extended spectrum beta-lactamase-producing uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from hospital attendees in Ebonyi State, Abakaliki

This present study was designed to determine the occurrence frequency of blaCTX-M and blaTEM genes in extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing uropathogenic Escherichia coli, and their antibiotic resistance patterns among hospital attendees in Abakaliki, Nigeria. Out of the 73 uropathogenic E.coli isolates analyzed, 52 were identified to be ESBL producers using double disk synergy technique. The frequency of beta-lactamse (bla) genes (CTX-M and TEM) among E. coli was molecularly determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Out of 52 (71.2%) ESBL-producing uropathogenic E. coli, 17 (32.7%) were positive for blaTEM, 35 (67.3%) were positive for blaCTX-M while 8 (15.3%) harboured both blaTEM and blaCTX-M genes. CTX-M gene was the most prevalent gene. Isolates evaluated in our study were resistant to cefotaxime (83.6%), ceftazidime (79.5%), amoxycillin (72.6%), cefpodoxime (68.5%), aztreonam (61.6%), ceftriaxone (57.5%), and cefepime (37%). This study demonstrated the occurrence frequency of CTX-M and TEM genes in uropathogenic E. coli strains in Abakaliki. Even though molecular techniques are more reliable in the detection of ESBL production, routine clinical screening for ESBL-producing uropathogens using phenotypic method should be introduced and encouraged in clinical settings as they are less expensive. This will go a long way in checkmating drug resistance.   Key words: Escherichia coli, uropathogens, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL), resistance genes, antibiotics.