[Distribution of phylogenetic groups, virulence factors and antimicrobial susceptibility in strains of uropathogenic Escherichia coli].

BACKGROUND

The difference between the pathogenic isolates and commensals of Escherichia coli is based on their phylogenetic antecedents. In Venezuela there are few studies that describe the pathogenic potential of phylogenetic groups in E. coli.

AIMS: Relate antimicrobial susceptibility, distribution of phylogenetic groups and virulence genes in strains of uropathogenic E. coli (ECUP) isolated from patients with UTI.

METHODS

We studied 17 ECUP strains, isolated from adult patients hospitalized in two health institutions. The susceptibility to 8 antibiotics was determined by the broth microdilution (MDC) method. Extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) and carbapenemases were phenotypically detected. The phylogenetic groups and the detection of the virulence genes were determined by PCR.

RESULTS

All strains synthesized ESBL and of these, 41% were associated with the production of a carbapenemases (KPC or MBL). The phylogroup B2 (41%) was the most predominant. The most frequent virulence genes were fimH and fyuA with 82% each. Only one strain from group F was positive to the 6 genes studied.

DISCUSSION: The diversity of associations between virulence genes and resistance profiles in the ECUP are evolving continuously, their distribution in the different phylogenetic groups depends to a large extent on the clinical epidemiological characteristics of the study groups.