Uropathogenic Escherichia coli in the high vaginal swab samples of fertile and infertile women: virulence factors, O-serogroups, and phenotyping and genotyping characterization of antibiotic resistance.

Transmission of urinary tract infections into the reproductive system is unavoidable. The present research was performed to assess the distribution of virulence genes, O-serogroups and antibiotic resistance properties of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) strains isolated from the high vaginal swab samples of fertile and infertile women. A total of 460 high vaginal swab samples were taken from fertile and infertile women. Distribution of virulence factors and serogroups and antibiotic resistance properties of the E. coli isolates were assessed. Sixty-five out of 460 (14.13%) swab samples were positive for E. coli. Prevalences of E. coli in samples taken from fertile and infertile women were 13.63% and 14.58%, respectively. O1 (7.69%), O2 (6.15%) and O6 (6.15%) were the most frequently detected serogroups. The most frequently detected virulence genes were sfa (72.72%), afa (72.72%), cnf1 (72.72%) and fim (72.72%). The most commonly detected antibiotic-resistance genes were tetA (95.45%), CITM (88.63%), aac(3)-IV (86.36%) and sul1 (72.72%). UPEC strains harboured the highest prevalence of resistance against tetracycline (88.63%), ampicillin (79.54%), gentamicin (77.27%) and enrofloxacin (52.27%). Seventeen out of 26 (65.38%) UPEC strains isolated from infertile women were resistant toward more than ten antibiotic agents. Infertile women with a history of urinary tract infections had the higher prevalence of UPEC strains and also the other characters. High prevalence of the virulent and resistant UPEC strains in the high vaginal part of the infertile women with a history of urinary tract infections may show an important role of these pathogens as causes of female infertility. However, further research is required to confirm this hypothesis.

One-year prevalence of antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus recovered from raw meat.

Food with animal origins and especially meat may play an important role in transmission of methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus to humans. The present investigation was carried out to determine the prevalence of MRSA in various types of Iranian meat samples as well as study their antimicrobial resistance properties. Nine-hundred raw meat samples were collected during various months of the year. Samples were cultured and those that were MRSA-positive were subjected to the disk diffusion method to study the antibiotic resistance pattern. One-hundred and sixty out of 900 raw meat samples (17.7%) were positive for MRSA. Raw sheep meat samples had the highest (24.0%), while raw camel meat samples had the lowest (10%) prevalence of MRSA. Samples which were collected in June, July, August, September and June months had the highest prevalence of MRSA. Bacterial strains were also resistant to ampicillin (100%), penicillin G (100%), gatifloxacin (96.8%), ceftriaxone (80%) and oxacillin (76.2%) antibiotics. We found that only one isolate was resistant to all tested antimicrobial agents. Contaminated meat samples are potential risk factor for transmission of MRSA. Thoughtful antibiotics prescription, control the hygienic quality of meat inspections and increase the hygienic status of butchers and slaughterhouses can decrease the prevalence of MRSA in meat.