Characterization of genes related to the efflux pump and porin in multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli strains isolated from patients with COVID-19 after secondary infection.
BMC Microbiol
; 24(1): 122, 2024 Apr 10.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38600509
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a multidrug resistant opportunistic pathogen that can cause secondary bacterial infections in patients with COVID-19. This study aimed to determine the antimicrobial resistance profile of E. coli as a secondary bacterial infection in patients with COVID-19 and to assess the prevalence and characterization of genes related to efflux pumps and porin.METHODS:
A total of 50 nonduplicate E. coli isolates were collected as secondary bacterial infections in COVID-19 patients. The isolates were cultured from sputum samples. Confirmation and antibiotic susceptibility testing were conducted by Vitek 2. PCR was used to assess the prevalence of the efflux pump and porin-related genes in the isolates. The phenotypic and genotypic evolution of antibiotic resistance genes related to the efflux pump was evaluated.RESULTS:
The E. coli isolates demonstrated high resistance to ampicillin (100%), cefixime (62%), cefepime (62%), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (60%), cefuroxime (60%), and ceftriaxone (58%). The susceptibility of E. coli to ertapenem was greatest (92%), followed by imipenem (88%), meropenem (86%), tigecycline (80%), and levofloxacin (76%). Regarding efflux pump gene combinations, there was a significant association between the acrA gene and increased resistance to levofloxacin, between the acrB gene and decreased resistance to meropenem and increased resistance to levofloxacin, and between the ompF and ompC genes and increased resistance to gentamicin.CONCLUSIONS:
The antibiotics ertapenem, imipenem, meropenem, tigecycline, and levofloxacin were effective against E. coli in patients with COVID-19. Genes encoding efflux pumps and porins, such as acrA, acrB, and outer membrane porins, were highly distributed among all the isolates. Efflux pump inhibitors could be alternative antibiotics for restoring tetracycline activity in E. coli isolates.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Infecções por Escherichia coli
/
Coinfecção
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COVID-19
Limite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
BMC Microbiol
Assunto da revista:
MICROBIOLOGIA
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Iraque