Evaluation of the antibiotic resistance and prevalence of uropathogenic Escherichia coli and detection of traT gene in isolated from patients referred to Abadan hospitals during 2017-2018

Objective: Escherichia coli is one of the most important causes agents of urinary tract infection in human. Thus, identification of Escherichia coli resistance patterns seems to be necessary. traT gene has been reported variable in Escherichia coli strains isolated from urinary tract infection. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of uropathogenic Escherichia coli and detection of traT gene in isolated from patients referred to Abadan hospitals. Methods: Totally, of 138 urine samples collected from patients with urinary tract infection in Abadan hospitals, 100 Escherichia coli strains were identified using microbiological and biochemical tests. The drug sensitivity definition test was done via the disk diffusion antibiogram method. Finally, the prevalence of traT gene was investigated by molecular PCR method. Result: Among isolates isolated from Escherichia coli, 15 isolates were resistant to all used antibiotics. The highest resistance rates of Escherichia coli isolates to Nalidixic acid and Tetracycline were 92% and 91%, respectively. The least resistance was observed for Nitrofurantoin and Cefoxitin (23% and 24%). Also, in 11 isolates, the presence of traT gene was confirmed, therefore, the prevalence of the traT gene was 73.33% The highest resistance rates of Escherichia coli isolates to Nalidixic acid and Tetracycline were 92% and 91%, respectively. Also, the prevalence of traT gene was 73.33%. Conclusion: Based on the results, the traT virulence gene was highly prevalent among strains isolated from Abadan hospitals. Therefore, traT gene could be considered as a therapeutic target in the future.