The Relationship Between Class I and II Integrons and Antibiotic Resistance Among Escherichia coli Isolates From Urinary Tract Infections

Background: Escherichia coli develops drug resistance through several mechanisms. Objective: The purpose of this study was the assessment of antibiotic susceptibility profile, and detection of class I and II integrons in E. coli, isolated from urinary tract infections (UTIs). Materials and Methods: A total of 100 E. coli clinical isolates were collected from UTIs in a 1-year period. The antibiotic susceptibility of E. coli isolates was evaluated to 14 antibiotics as advised by CLSI 2016 guidelines. All the isolates were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of class I and II integrons. Results: The highest resistance was observed to amoxicillin (72%), erythromycin (70%), ciprofloxacin (66%), nalidixic acid (57%), and tetracycline (55%). The class I and II integrons were detected in 32% and 21% of isolates, respectively. There were significant relationships between resistance to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (P 0.001), ciprofloxacin (P 0.01), and tetracycline (P 0.005) and the class I integron. The class I integron gene was highly detected in the uropathogenic E. coli, possibly playing a role in the dissemination of drug resistance. Conclusion: Because of the significant association between the presence of class I integron among multidrug-resistant isolates and antibiotic resistance, infection control, and establishment and implementation of appropriate strategies for suitable treatment in hospitals are essential for the prevention of dissemination of these isolates.