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CC BY 4.0 · Journal of Health and Allied Sciences NU 2024; 14(03): 420-425
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1772707
Brief Report

Prophage and Plasmid-Mediated Beta-Lactamases in Multidrug-Resistant Extraintestinal Escherichia coli

Juliet Roshini Mohan Raj 
1   Division of Infectious Diseases, Nitte University Center for Science Education and Research, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India
,
Akshatha Dinesh
2   Nitte University Center for Science Education and Research, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India
,
Rajeshwari Vittal
3   Division of Environmental Health and Toxicology, Nitte University Center for Science Education and Research, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India
,
Anusha Rohit 
4   Department of Microbiology, Madras Medical Mission, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
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Abstract

Objectives Antibiotic resistance can arise as a mutation to adapt to stress or be mediated by horizontal gene transfer. This study aimed at identifying the resistance determinants present in the mobile genetic elements of prophages and plasmids within multidrug-resistant (MDR) extraintestinal Escherichia coli.

Materials and Methods Thirty-five anonymized MDR E. coli isolates of nonintestinal infections were confirmed for their antimicrobial resistance to six categories of antimicrobials by the disk diffusion test. Genes coding for beta-lactamases and carbapenemases in bacterial genome, plasmid, and prophage fractions were separately determined by polymerase chain reaction. Transducing ability of prophages carrying resistance genes was determined.

Results Twenty-six isolates were positive for the gene bla CTX-M, nine for bla TEM, one each for bla KPC and bla VIM, thirteen for bla NDM, and seven for bla OXA. A majority of these isolates carried these determinants in plasmids and prophage fractions. Twenty-one percent of the prophage fractions (4 of 19) were able to successfully transfer resistance to sensitive isolates.

Conclusion This study indicates bla CTX-M, bla TEM, and bla NDM genes that are reported most frequently in MDR isolates are more frequent in the plasmid and prophage fractions thus supporting for increased mobility.

Keywords

beta-lactamase - carbapenemases - mobile genetic elements - MDR E. coli

Approvals Statement

The study was approved by the Institutional Research Advisory Committee via order INST/RAC/2017-18/9 and the Institutional Ethics Committee via sanction order INST.EC/2017-18/001 dated 22.01.2018.


Supplementary Material



Publication History

Article published online:
24 August 2023

© 2023. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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