Study of the Genomic Characterization of Antibiotic-Resistant Isolated From Iraqi Patients with Urinary Tract Infections.

Urinary tract infection is one of the last diseases prevalent in humans, with various causative agents affecting 250 million people annually, This study analyzed UTIs in Iraqi patients caused by . ESBL enzymes contribute to antibiotic resistance. The research aimed to analyze ESBL gene frequency, resistance patterns, and genetic diversity of strains; Between Dec 2020 and May 2021, 200 urine samples were collected, cultured on blood agar, EMB, and MacConkey's plates, samples incubated at 37 °C for 24 h. Positive samples (> 100 cfu/ml) underwent Kirby-Bauer and CLSI antibiotic susceptibility testing. PCR detected virulence genes, Beta-lactamase coding genes, and biofilm-associated resistance genes in isolates; Out of 200 isolates, 80% comprised Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Specifically, 120 isolates (60%) were Gram-negative, while 40 isolates (20%) were Gram-positive. Among Gram-negative isolates, 20% were identified as . Remarkably, all strains showed resistance to all tested antibiotics, ranging from 80 to 95% resistance. The isolates harbored three identified resistance genes: blaTEM, blaSHV, and blaCTXM. Regarding biofilm production, 10% showed no formation, 12% weak formation, 62% moderate formation, and 16% strong formation; our study found that pathogenic caused 20% of UTIs. The majority of studied strains from UTI patients carried the identified virulence genes, which are vital for infection development and persistence.