Open AccessVirulence genes and antimicrobial resistance pattern in Proteus mirabilis strains isolated from patients attended with urinary infections to Tertiary Hospitals, in Iran
Author(s) -
Azardokht Tabatabaei,
Khadijeh Ahmadi,
Alireza Namazi Shabestari,
Nastaran Khosravi,
Ali Badamchi
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
african health sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.391
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1729-0503
pISSN - 1680-6905
DOI - 10.4314/ahs.v21i4.22
Subject(s) - proteus mirabilis , microbiology and biotechnology , virulence , cefotaxime , nalidixic acid , ampicillin , antibiotic resistance , cephalosporin , multiple drug resistance , antibiotics , biology , antimicrobial , medicine , gene , escherichia coli , genetics
Background: Proteus mirabilis is a frequent reason for catheter-associated urinary tract infections (UTIs). The aim of this study was to identify virulence genes and antimicrobial resistance patterns in P. mirabilis strains isolated from patients whoattended a tertiary hospital in Iran.
Methods: In this study, 100 P. mirabilis strains from urine samples were isolated. These isolated strains were identified by biochemical and PCR-based tests, and their antibiotic resistance was profiled through a standard procedure using 14 antibiotics.PCR assays were used to detect virulence-related genes in P. mirabilis strains. The biofilm formation of each P. mirabilis strain was examined.
Results: Of the 100 P. mirabilis isolates, 16 (16%) were multidrug-resistant. High resistance was observed against cotrimoxazole (97%), nalidixic acid (93%), cefotaxime (77%), and amoxicillin (62%). Sixty of the 100 isolates showed resistance against extended-spectrum cephalosporins. The prevalence rates of the genes related to the virulence factors in this study were mrpH (100%), ucaA (91%), hpmA (94%), zapA (95%), ptaA (100%), ureG (100%), pmfA (100%), fliC (97%), and mrpA (90%) using PCR method. Strong biofilm formation was observed in 20% (5/25) of the strains isolated fromnon-catheterized samples and 80% (20/25) of strains isolated from catheterized samples.
Conclusions: Resistance to antibiotics and the prevalence of pathogenicity genes are high in Proteus mirabilis strains iolated from UTIs.
Keywords: Antibiotic resistance; Proteus mirabilis; biofilm; virulence factors.