The Frequency and Antibiotic Resistance Pattern of the blaOXA-48 beta-Lactamase Gene in Escherichia coli Strains Isolated from Urinary Tract Infections

Aims: Escherichia coli, a gram-negative bacterium, is a predominant pathogen causing urinary tract infections, responsible for approximately 90% of cases in young women. This study aimed to investigate the frequency of the blaOXA-48 gene in carbapenem-resistant uropathogenic Escherichia coli. Materials Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted from July to November 2022 using 320 urine samples from hospitals and healthcare centers in Yasuj City, Iran. The antibiotic resistance of the isolates was assessed through the disk diffusion method. The presence of the blaOXA-48 gene was investigated using the polymerase chain reaction with specific primers. Data was analyzed using SPSS 24 software. Findings: Escherichia coli showed varying degrees of resistance to different antibiotics. The highest resistance was against doripenem (96.6%), while the lowest was against tetracycline (22.5%). The PCR method revealed 55 (36.7%) positive (24 males and 31 females) and 95 (63.3%) negative (39 males and 56 females) cases of blaOXA-48 gene in the studied Escherichia coli samples. Conclusion: The most effective antibiotic for treating urinary tract infections caused by Escherichia coli is tetracycline.