Genetic Investigation of Beta-Lactam Associated Antibiotic Resistance Among Escherichia Coli Strains Isolated from Water Sources

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance is an important factor threatening human health. It is widely accepted that antibiotic resistant bacteria such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) released from humans and animals into the water sources, can introduce their resistance genes into the natural bacterial community. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of bla(TEM), bla(CTX), bla(SHV), bla(OXA) and bla(VEB) associated-antibiotic resistance among E. coli bacteria isolated from different water resources in Iran. METHODS: The study contained all E. coli strains segregated from different surface water sources. The Kirby-Bauer method and combined discs method was determined in this study for testing antimicrobial susceptibility and strains that produced Extended-Spectrum Beta Lactamases (ESBL), respectively. DNA extraction kit was applied for genomic and plasmid DNA derivation. Finally the frequency of resistant genes including bla(TEM), bla(CTX), bla(SHV), bla(OXA) and bla(VEB) in ESBL producing isolates were studied by PCR. RESULTS: One hundred E. coli strains were isolated and entered in the study. The highest antibiotic resistance was observed on clindamycin (96%). Moreover, 38.5% isolates were ESBL producers. The frequency of different ESBLs genes were 37%, 27%, 27%, and 25% for bla(TEM), bla(CTX), bla(SHV), and bla(OXA), respectively. The bla(VEB) wasn’t found in any isolates. CONCLUSION: The study revealed a high prevalence of CTX-M, TEM, SHV and OXA genes among E. coli strains in surface water resources. In conclusion, these results raised a concern regarding the presence and distribution of these threatening factors in surface water sources and its subsequent outcomes.