β-LACTAMASES OF EXTENDED SPECTRUM AND VIRULENCE FACTORS IN UROPATHOGENIC Escherichia coli IN NURSING HOMES IN LIMA, PERU

Abstract

Nursing homes are institutions with a high prevalence of urinary tract infections caused by ESBL-producing E. coli with various virulence factors. The study's objective was to determine the frequency of the blaCTX-M gene and eight virulence genes in 35 ESBL-producing uropathogenic E. coli from six nursing homes in Peru during 2018. 57.1% (20/35) of E. coli were carriers of the blaCTX-M gene. Furthermore, a frequency of 46% (15/35) and 37% (13/35) of hly-alpha and cnf-1, respectively, was obtained; high presence of the iucC genes, 63% (22/35), aer, 94% (33/35) and chuA, 94% (33/34) and a frequency of 46% (16/35) and 91% (32/34) of the pap GII and nanA genes, respectively. There is a predominance in the distribution of the blaCTX-M gene and a high frequency of exotoxins that give it a competitive advantage to spread into the bloodstream.