Determination of virulence factors of Escherichia coli isolated from urinary tract infection patients

Urinary Tract infections are one of the most common bacterial infections in human. On the present study urine sample of suspected UTI patients were included. Total 23 samples were found to be positive for bacterial infection in which predominant species was Escherichia coli 13 (56.52%) and 10 (43.48%) were found to be other bacterial species i.e. Proteus spp. 4 (17.3%), Citrobacter spp. 3 (13%), Klebsiella spp. 1 (4.3%), Enterobacter spp. 1 (4.3%), and Staphylococcus aureus 1 (4.3%). The isolates identified as Escherichia coli were screened for virulence factors namely cell surface hydrophobicity, haemolysin and gelatinase production by recommended methods. Among 13 E. coli 8 (61.54%) were showing cell surface hydrophobicity, 10 (76.92%) were haemolysin positive and nil result for gelatinase production was observed. The study reveals hydrophobicity and αhaemolysin production in E.coli strains which are important virulence factors in the pathogenesis.