Genetic relation of clinical isolates of Escherichia coli producing Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamases (ESBL) at a hospital in Havana, Cuba

Abstract

Escherichia coli, a producer of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamases (ESBL) is a multiresistant pathogen responsible for health-care-associated infections (IACS), is isolated more frequently in areas of intensive care and surgery. The objective of this study was to determine the genetic relation of ESBL-producing E. coli recovered in a Hospital in Havana, Cuba. A retrospective study was conducted which were analyzed 328 clinical isolates E. coli collected in 2014. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined by standard disk diffusion and was confirmed the presence of ESBL using double disk diffusion test (DDD), the presence of genes by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and genetic relation through pulsed-field electrophoresis (PFGE). The ESBL were detected in 35 E. coli isolates, of these 14 strains carried the blaTEM genes, four blaSHV genes and 18 blaCTX–M genes. The genetic relation in the Internal Medicine ward showed four genotypes of which two clones are genetically related (similarity ˃80%) in the urology ward were detected nine genotypes of a total of 12 isolates and the Intensive Care Unit ward were detected eight genotypes of a total 10 isolates in these last two wards isolates were genetically unrelated. The most frequent genotype was CTX-M.This is the first report showed genotypic diversity of ESBL-producing E. coli in Havana, suggesting potential cross-transmission thus highlighting the need for implementing control strategies to prevent dissemination of these enzymes in this one hospital.