Virulence property, phylogenetic background, and resistance pattern of Escherichia coli isolates from wound infections

Abstract

Aims: The aim of the present study was to characterize the E. coli isolates from surgical wounds, traumatic wounds, and from foot ulcers on the basis of virulence and drug resistance. Subjects and Methods: A total of forty E. coli strains isolated from wound infections were studied. Phylogenetic background, virulence factors (VFs), and antibiotic resistance profiles were determined by phenotypic and genotypic methods. Correlation between phylogenetic groups, VFs, and drug resistance pattern were analyzed. Results: Analysis of virulence gene possession among the isolates indicated that a maximum number were carrying the fimH (39 strains; 97.5%) gene, followed by iutA (27; 67.5%), papC (16; 4%), hlyA (5; 12.5%), cnf1 ( 5; 12.5%), and neuC (1; 2.5%), respectively. The phylogroups B2 (32.5%) and D (42.5%) were more common. Thirty isolates (75%) were found to be positive for extended-spectrum β-lactamase genes. CIT type of plasmid-mediated AmpC was seen only in 6 (15%) isolates. Most effective antibiotics were carbapenem and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim groups of drugs. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that adherence factors and iron uptake systems are two of the more important CFs expressed by such isolates, and such strains are also observed to exhibit a higher degree of drug resistance. Carbapenems and co-trimoxazole may be considered as reliable and successful alternative medications for these isolates.

Keywords

• Drug resistance
• Escherichia coli
• phylogroup
• polymerase chain reaction
• virulence factor
• wound infection