Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 24, 2025
Isolation and Identification of Waterborne Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Molecular Characterization of their Antibiotic Resistance Genes
Published on: March 3, 2023
Colistin-resistance genes in Escherichia coli isolated from patients with urinary tract infections
Waleed M Al Momani1, Nour Ata2, Ahmed O Maslat2
1Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan.
Background:
The incidence of antimicrobial resistance is alarmingly high because it occurs in humans, environment, and animal sectors from a "One Health" viewpoint. The emergence of plasmid-carried mobile colistin-resistance (MCR) genes limits the efficacy of colistin, which is the last-line treatment for multidrug resistance (MDR) against gram-negative infections.
Objectives:
The current study aimed to investigate emergence of colistin-resistance (MCR 1-5) genes in E. coli isolated from patients with urinary tract infections (UTIs) in Jordan.
Methods:
E. coli (n = 132) were collected from urine specimens. The E. coli isolated from human UTI patients were examined the resistance to colistin based on the presence of MCR (1-5). All isolates were tested against 20 antimicrobials using the standard disk diffusion method. The broth microdilution technique was used to analyze colistin resistance. In addition, the MCR (1-5) genes were detected using multiplex PCR.
Results:
Out of the 132 isolates, 1 isolate was colistin-resistant, having a minimum inhibitory concentration of 8 μg/mL and possessing MCR-1. All the E. coli isolates showed high resistance to penicillin (100%), amoxicillin (79.55%), cephalexin (75.76%), nalidixic acid (62.88%), tetracycline (58.33%), or cefepime (53.79).
Conclusion:
To our knowledge, this is the first report on the presence of plasmid-coded MCR-1 in E. coli from a patient with UTIs in Jordan. This is a problematic finding because colistin is the last-line drug for the treatment of infections caused by MDR gram-negative bacteria. There is a crucial need to robustly utilize antibiotics to control and prevent the emergence and prevalence of colistin-resistance genes.
Insights
The first report of colistin-resistance gene MCR-1 in E. coli from urinary tract infections in Jordan was found. This finding is concerning as colistin is a last-line antibiotic for multidrug-resistant infections.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- One Health
Background:
- Antimicrobial resistance is a global health crisis across human, animal, and environmental sectors.
- Mobile colistin-resistance (MCR) genes on plasmids compromise colistin efficacy against Gram-negative infections.
- Colistin is a critical last-line antibiotic for multidrug-resistant (MDR) infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of colistin-resistance genes (MCR 1-5) in E. coli.
- To identify MCR genes in E. coli isolated from patients with urinary tract infections (UTIs) in Jordan.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed 132 E. coli isolates from human UTI patients.
- Determined colistin resistance using broth microdilution and MCR gene detection via multiplex PCR.
- Assessed isolate susceptibility to 20 antimicrobials using disk diffusion.
Main Results:
- One E. coli isolate (0.76%) exhibited colistin resistance (MIC 8 μg/mL) and carried the MCR-1 gene.
- High resistance rates were observed for penicillin (100%), amoxicillin (79.55%), and cephalexin (75.76%).
Conclusions:
- This study reports the first detection of plasmid-mediated MCR-1 in E. coli from UTIs in Jordan.
- The presence of MCR-1 is a significant concern due to colistin's role in treating MDR infections.
- Urgent strategies are needed to control the spread of colistin-resistance genes.
Related Concept Videos
00:57Antibiotic Selection
00:46Genomic DNA in Prokaryotes
Genomic Diversity in Bacteria
Although bacterial genomes are much...