Detection of CTX-M-15 among uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from five major hospitals in Tripoli, Libya

الملخص EN

Objectives : Multidrug resistance (MD R) and emergence of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) among uropathogenic Escherichia coli have been reported worldwide, but there was no information on the detection of blaCTX-M-15 in major teaching hospitals in Libya.

The aim of the study was to investigate the occurrence of CTX-M-15 β-lactamases producers isolated from five teaching hospitals in Tripoli, Libya.

Methods: A total of 346 urine samples were collected from hospitalized patients in five teaching hospitals with a diagnosis of urinary tract infection (UTI).

Phenotypic confirmation of ESBLs was confirmed by E-test strip; all ESBL-producing E.

coli isolates were screened for the blaCTX-M-15 gene.

Results: The distribution of ESBL-producing E.

coli varied among the five hospitals.

The highest proportion was identified in Tripoli Medical Centre (67.6%).

There were extremely high proportions of isolates resistant to ceftriaxone, cefepime, and ceftazidime (93.0–100.0%) among ESBL producers compared to non- ESBL producers (2.2–4.7%).

MD R was detected in 22.2% of isolates.

The majority of isolates (85.9%) in which blaCTX-M-15 was identified were ESBL producers.

There was a correlation (p < 0.001) between expression of CTX-M-15 and resistance to ceftazidime.

Conclusions: The isolation of MD R ESBL-producing uropathogens expressing the CTX-M-15 gene will limit the choices clinicians have to treat their patients with UTIs.

Continued surveillance and implementation of efficient infection control measures are required.