Characterization of blaCTX-M sequences of Indian origin and thirteen uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolates resistant to multiple antibiotics

Molecular Characterization of Extended Spectrum β-Lactamase Producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates and Their Antibiotic Resistance Profile in Health Care-Associated Urinary Tract Infections in North India

Background Healthcare-associated urinary tract infections (HAUTIs) caused by gram-negative pathogens have emerged as a global concern. So far, little is known about the epidemiology of extended-spectrum β lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in HAUTIs in India. The study was carried to determine the antibiotic resistance pattern and ESBL-producing genes in E. coli and K. pneumoniae strains isolated from HAUTIs in a tertiary institute in North India.

Methods A total of 200 consecutive, nonduplicate clinical isolates of E. coli and 140 isolates of K. pneumoniae from hospitalized patients with UTI were collected during a period of 1 year. Strains were studied for the presence of ESBL genes (blaCTX-M1, blaCTX-M2, blaCTX-M9, blaCTX-M15, blaSHV, blaTEM, blaOXA-1, blaVEB, blaPER-2, and blaGES) by multiplex polymerase chain reaction using gene-specific primers.

Results ESBL was detected in 82.5% (165 out of 200) isolates of E. coli and 74.3% (104 out of 140) isolates of K. pneumoniae by phenotypic confirmatory testing. From 269 phenotypically positive ESBL isolates, blaTEM (49.4%) was the most common genotype followed by blaCTX-M1 (31.97%), blaOXA-1 (30.1%), and blaSHV(11.9%) either alone or in combination. In the present study, blaCTX-M-15 (84.89%) was the most common blaCTX-M1-type ESBL. In total, 2.6 and 5.2% of the isolates were positive for PER-2 and VEB genes, respectively.

Conclusion To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on ESBL resistance patterns and ESBL-producing genes in HAUTIs in North India. Our study reports high occurrence with ESBL types CTX-M-1, CTX-M-15, TEM, and SHV. Minor ESBL variants OXA-1, VEB-type, and PER-2-type β-lactamase are also emerging in HAUTIs infections in North India.

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli in India-an Overview on Recent Research Advancements and Trends

Urinary tract infection (UTI), a prevalent disease in India, also ranks among the most common infections in developing countries. The rapid emergence of antibiotic-resistant uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPECs), the leading etiologic agent of UTI, in the last few years, led to an upsurge in the health care cost. This caused a considerable economic burden, especially in low-middle income country, India. This review aimed to provide an explicit overview of the recent advancements in E. coli-mediated UTI in India by incorporation of valuable information from the works published in PubMed and Google Scholar in the last six years (2015 to August, 2020). The literature survey demonstrated UPECs as the most predominant uropathogen in India, especially among females, causing both asymptomatic bacteriuria (ABU) and symptomatic UTI. An overall increasing national trend in resistance to penicillins, cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, and sulfonamides was perceived irrespective of ABU and symptomatic UPECs during the aforementioned study period. High incidences of multidrug resistance, extended-spectrum β-lactamases, metallo β-lactamases, and AmpCs in UPECs were reported. Notable information on the pathogenic profiles, phylogroups, pathogenicity islands, and evidence of pathoadaptive FimH mutations was described. Alternative therapeutics and potential drug targets against UPECs were also reconnoitered. Therefore, the nationwide widespread occurrences of highly virulent MDR UPEC together with the limited availability of therapeutics highlighted the urgent need for promotion and invention of alternative therapeutics, search for which had already been started. Moreover, investigation of several mechanisms of UPEC infection and the search for potential drug targets might help to design newer therapeutics.