Phenotypic Diagnosis of Efflux Pump of Escherichia coli Isolated from Urinary Tract Infections

Abstract

Abstract: This study aimed to phenotypically detection of efflux pump in Escherichia coli isolated from urinary tract infections of Iraqi women and their relationship with antibiotic resistance. This study included taking 100 samples of urinary tract infection in Iraqi women. All samples were subjected to primary identification test by using various methods (cultural characteristics, biochemical test, VITEK device 2, molecular method). Only 53 sample (58.09%) were specific for Escherichia coli while other bacterial isolates were Staphylococcus aureus 20 isolates (22.2%), Klebsiella Pneumonia 9 isolates (10 %), Proteus mirabilis 6 isolates (6.66%), Pseudomonas aurogenosa 2 isolates (2.22%) and 10 sample did not have any growth on culture media. The phenotype of the efflux pump in Escherichia coli was detected using ethidium bromide (EtBr-CW) method, and the results showed that 25 isolates (47.2%) were contained efflux pump. The antibiotic sensitivity test used to detect the sensitivity of bacteria to nine antibiotics showed that E. coli isolates were more resistant to the antibiotic Erythromycin with a percentage of (100%), while the bacteria were sensitive to both antibiotics Nitrofurantoin, Ceftriaxone with a percentage of (52.83%), (50.94%) respectively. The EtBr- agar Cartwheel method is a good screening marker for efflux activity. It is easy to perform, less time-consuming and can be used to screen large numbers of bacterial strains, thereby facilitating the rapid identification of isolates displaying an MDR phenotype.