Open AccessMolecular Characterization and Antimicrobial Resistance of Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli in Children from Ahvaz, Iran
Author(s) -
Mehrandokht Sirous,
Mohammad Hashemzadeh,
Maryam Keshtvarz,
Mansour Amin,
Nasim Shams,
Maryam Dastoorpoor,
Mojtaba Shahin,
Dorsa Koraei
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
jundishapur journal of microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.281
H-Index - 29
eISSN - 2008-4161
pISSN - 2008-3645
DOI - 10.5812/jjm.100877
Subject(s) - enteropathogenic escherichia coli , microbiology and biotechnology , imipenem , escherichia coli , antibiotic resistance , diarrhea , serotype , biology , drug resistance , virology , antibiotics , medicine , gene , genetics
Background: Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is one of the most important pathogens among young children worldwide. Both eae and bfp genes have been used to identify EPEC strains and categorize them into typical and atypical strains. They may be an emerging pathogen in both developing and developed countries. Objectives: This study was primarily conducted to assess the epidemiology, drug resistance, and β-lactamase distribution of EPEC, as well as the detection of efa1/lifA in atypical strains. Methods: A total of 251 E. coli strains isolated from children with diarrhea were evaluated for their EPEC pathotype by PCR for the presence of eae, stx1, stx2, and bfp genes. Serogrouping with polyvalent antisera was performed to confirm EPEC strains. Atypical EPEC-containing samples were evaluated for the efa1/lifA gene. EPEC isolates were assessed to recognize the antibiotic resistance and screened to detect extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs). Results: Enteropathogenic E. coli strains were detected in 17 (6.78%) of E. coli isolates by PCR. The prevalence of typical and atypical strains was determined at 35.3% and 64.7%. All strains were completely susceptible to colistin, imipenem, and meropenem. The prevalence of blaCTX-M and blaTEM genes was calculated at 70.58% and 58.82%, respectively. Conclusions: Enteropathogenic E. coli isolates are completely sensitive to carbapenems, and precise therapeutic strategies are required to prevent the spread of these beta-lactamase genes among diarrheagenic E. coli.