Assessment the role of sfa and afa Genes in the Antibiotics Resistance of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli

Abstract

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a prevalent bacterial infectious illness. Escherichia coli is the main cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs). Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) strains possess various distinct virulence characteristics that can exacerbate (UTIs).  Aim. The aim of this study was to identify the sfa and afa genes found in UPEC isolates and evaluation the effect of both genes in biofilm formation of uropathogenic Escherichia coli and relation with antibiotic resistance. Methods.  Between October and December of 2023, 140 sample were collected. It was found that 21 isolates were UPEC detected by culturing, biochemical tests, and VITEK-2 system. Using the disk diffusion method, the susceptibility to fourteen different antibiotic types were examined; and ability of formation biofilm was tested. Results. The findings showed that the E. coli isolates were resistance to, imipenem (4.76%), amikacin (9.52%), gentamicin (33.3%), ciprofloxacin (76.19%), azithromycin (28.57%), tetracycline (80.95%), cefotaxime (90.48%), ceftriaxone (85.71%), co-trimoxazole (52.38%), amoxiclav (amoxicillin- clavulanic acid) (9.52%), aztreonam (33.3%), ampicillin (90.48%), chloramphenicol (9.52%), while all the isolates were sensitive to the nitrofurantoin. For biofilm formation of isolates the findings indicated that 1 (4.76%) isolate produced a weak biofilm, 13 (61.90%) isolates formed a moderate biofilm, and 7 (33.33%) isolates formed a strong biofilm. While the frequency of presence of biofilm formation genes was 17 (80.95%) for sfa and 3(14.28%) for afa. Conclusion. The results of present study concluded that the sfa and afa genes were had important role in the adhesion and biofilm formation of UPEC as well as in the antibiotic resistance of these isolates.