VIRULENCE DETERMINANTS OF ESCHERICHIA COLI STRAINS ISOLATED FROM SURGICAL SITE INFECTIONS AT SELECTED HOSPITALS IN SYRIA

Daoud, N.; Abou Sulaiman, A.; Al Kwatli, K. H.

doi:10.21608/bfsa.2020.127420

VIRULENCE DETERMINANTS OF ESCHERICHIA COLI STRAINS ISOLATED FROM SURGICAL SITE INFECTIONS AT SELECTED HOSPITALS IN SYRIA

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Damascus University, Syria & Department of Life Science, Faculty of Dentistry, Damascus University, Syria

² Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Damascus University, Syria

³ Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Damascus University, Syria

10.21608/bfsa.2020.127420

Abstract

Escherichia coli is one of the most commonly isolated pathogens from surgical site infections (SSIs) that accounts for significant morbidity and mortality, especially with high virulent strains. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the virulence determinants of E. coli strains isolated from surgical sections. 51 E. coli isolates were assessed for biofilm formation, mannose-sensitive or -resistant hemagglutination, capsule, hemolysin and siderophores production. Antibiotic susceptibility against 14 common antibiotics was performed. As a result, 25 strains displayed 5 virulence factors and multiple drug resistance towards more than 11 antibiotics. DNA and plasmids were extracted from the 25 virulent isolates. PCR was used to investigate virulence genes on DNA encoding adhesins (fimH-1, mrkD), hemolysin (hlyA), siderophores (entB: enterobactin, iutA: aerobactin, irp-1: yersiniabactin- which was encoded on (HPI) high-pathogenicity island). MrkD, iutA and hlyA genes were also screened on extracted plasmids. The most common virulence genes were iutA (25/100%), mrkD (24/96%), entB (23/92%) and fimH-1 (21/84%). Irp1 was found at moderate rates (15 /60%) and at lower prevalence, was gene hlyA (2 / 8%). Plasmids were found in 16/25 strains. MrkD and iutA were present in 10 /16 plasmids, whereas none of them harbored hlyA. In conclusion, most E. coli isolates harbored high frequencies of (fimH1, mrkD, entB and iutA) which seem to be at the basis of pathogenicity. However, some strains, which carry HPI and have virulence plasmids can account for even more real threat if they spread among other Enterobacteriaceae members in surgical sections.