Mutational Analysis of Carbapenem Resistance Genes in Citrobacter Freundii Isolated from Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) Patients, Peshawar

Abstract

In the current era, pathogens become more virulent due to the development of resistance against the major families of antibiotics. The most common infection which is both community-acquired and hospital-acquired is the Urinary tract infection (UTI). The current study is intended to determine the mutational analysis of carbapenem resistance in the isolates of Citrobacter freundii isolated from UTI patients. A total of 145 urine samples were collected from the UTI suspected patients at Khyber Teaching Hospital, (Peshawar, Pakistan). Out of 145 samples, 40 samples were detected as positive isolates of C. freundii. The phenotypic identification of isolates was done via API-10S kit. The carbapenem antibiotic resistance genes were detected via Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The antibiotic susceptibility testing was done via Kirby Bauer method and the results revealed that the isolates were highly resistant towards cefepime (97.5%), amoxicillin (95%), and meropenem (92.5%). The molecular analysis revealed that the VIM gene was detected in 3 isolates, the NDM-1 gene in 6 isolates, and the OXA-48 gene was detected in 4 isolates of C. freundii. The result of Next generation sequencing revealed that no mutation was detected in the sequences of these carbapenem resistance genes. The output of the current study concluded that carbapenem resistance is emerging rapidly mainly in the uropathogens and the antibiotic resistance genes enhance the ability of uropathogens to combat against antibiotics.