Abstract

PREVALENCE AND GENETIC PROFILING OF ESBL AND AMPC \BETA-LACTAMASE-PRODUCING ESCHERICHIA COLI ISOLATED FROM PATIENTS WITH URINARY TRACT INFECTION IN BABYLON PROVINCE, IRAQ

Noorhan Ameer Khaleel*

ABSTRACT

Although Iraq belongs to a region with a high prevalence of extended-spectrum \beta-lactamase (ESBL) / AmpC \beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae, data regarding antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is limited. We studied the prevalence and diversity of \beta-lactamases produced by Escherichia coli (E. coli) urinary pathogens from six hospitals and healthcare centers in Al-Hilla, Babylon province, Iraq. ESBL and AmpC \beta-lactamase production was detected by phenotypic testing followed by genotyping. The most prevalent species responsible for urinary tract infections in this study was E. coli (53%). The prevalence of ESBL production was remarkably high (100%), highlighting a significant public health concern. Detected ESBL genes included blaSHV, blaTEM, blaOXA, and bla CTX-M-14, with bla OXA (80%) being the most prevalent, followed by bla CTX-M (70%), bla TEM (52%), and bla SHV (48%). Among the AmpC \beta-lactamase genes, bla DHA (62%) was the most predominant. Specifically, AmpC genes identified in E. coli were bla DHA, bla LAT, bla MOX, bla ACT, and bla FOX, whereas bla ACC was absent. Co-occurrence of multiple ESBL and AmpC genes was common. This study aims to contribute to the currently limited data on AMR in Iraq.

Keywords: Extended spectrum ?-lactamase, AmpC ?-lactamase, Genotypic detection, Escherichia coli.