Carbapenem Resistance Profiles of Pathogenic Escherichia coli in Uganda

Escherichia coli has been implicated as one of the main etiological agents diarrhea, urinary tract infections, meningitis and septicemia worldwide. The ability to cause diseases is potentiated by presence virulence factors. factors influence capacity E. infect colonize different body systems. Thus, pathogenic are grouped into DEC strains that mainly clustered in phylogenetic group B1 A; ExPEC belonging A, B2 D. Coexistence beta-lactamase encoding genes complicates treatment outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed at presenting carbapenem resistance (CR) profiles among coli. This was a retrospective cross-sectional involving use 421 archived clinical isolates collected 2019 from four Uganda tertiary hospitals. were subjected antibiotics sensitivity assays determine phenotypic resistance. Four sets multiplex PCR performed detect CR genes, pathotypes PAI groups. Antibiotic susceptibility revealed all used MDR they exhibited 100% more than first-line antibiotics. registered genotypic prevalence 22.8% 33.0% respectively. most predominant gene blaOXA-48 with frequency 33.0%, then blaVIM (21.0%), blaIMP (16.5%), blaKPC (14.8%) blaNDM (14.8%). Spearman’s correlation highly associated Furthermore, isolates, 19.7% harboured where EPEC recorded significantly higher (10.8%) followed S-ETEC (3.1%), STEC (2.9%), EIEC (2.0%) L-ETEC (2.0%). Genetic analysis characterized 46.1% only IV536 (33.0%) IICFT073 (13.1%) detected. Phylogenetic predominantly detected (41.1%), A (30.2%), B1(21.6%), D (7.1%). 38.6% 23.1% respectively expressed Our results significant level carriage groups Virulence genetic located on mobile elements. constitutes great threat healthcare system promotes horizontal transfer.