Characteristics of ESBL-positive Escherichia coli causing community-acquired UTIs in India

Abstract

Uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) is the predominant uropathogen in community-acquired urinary tract infections (CA-UTIs) globally. However, data from India on relationship between antimicrobial resistance, virulence factors, and clonal markers in UPEC remain scarce. We studied 80 ESBL-positive UPEC isolates causing CA-UTI across four Indian regions. Antimicrobial susceptibility done using VITEK-2. PCR assays detected ESBL genes ( bla CTX-M-15 , bla TEM ), carbapenemase genes ( bla NDM , bla OXA-48-like ), virulence genes ( fimH, pap, sfa, hlyA, aer ) and serogroup O25b. Phenotypic virulence assays assessed hemolysin, haemagglutination, biofilm and gelatinase production. All isolates susceptible to fosfomycin, with high susceptibility to nitrofurantoin (87.5%) and ertapenem (85%). Predominant resistance gene was bla CTX-M-15 (97.5%), followed by bla TEM (55%), bla NDM (16.3%) and bla OXA-48-like (5%). Biofilm formation (41.3%) most prevalent virulence trait, followed by haemagglutination (35%). Frequently detected virulence genes were pap (61.3%), fimH (55%), and aer (48.8%). The O25b serogroup found in 41.3% of isolates had lower ertapenem resistance than non-O25b strains. This study shows ESBL-producing UPEC isolates from community settings in India frequently harbour multiple beta-lactamase resistance genes and virulence factors, underscoring their adaptability and clinical threat in CA-UTIs. These findings emphasize the critical need for continued molecular surveillance, strengthened infection control, and robust antibiotic stewardship programs to mitigate the spread of multidrug-resistant, virulent UPEC strains.

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BibTeX RIS

BibTeX

@article{kocher2026characteristics,
  title = {{Characteristics of ESBL-positive Escherichia coli causing community-acquired UTIs in India}},
  author = {Deepak Kocher and Swati Pundir and Sarita Mohapatra and Mani Kalaivani and Hitender Gautam and Seema Sood and Benu Dhawan and Brusabhanu Nayak and Arvind Kumar and Rajesh Kumari and Sandeep Mahajan and Pankaj Hari and Arti Kapil and Bimal Kumar Das},
  journal = {Scientific Reports},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-70037-z},
  url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-70037-z},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}

RIS

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Characteristics of ESBL-positive Escherichia coli causing community-acquired UTIs in India
AU  - Deepak Kocher
AU  - Swati Pundir
AU  - Sarita Mohapatra
AU  - Mani Kalaivani
AU  - Hitender Gautam
AU  - Seema Sood
AU  - Benu Dhawan
AU  - Brusabhanu Nayak
AU  - Arvind Kumar
AU  - Rajesh Kumari
AU  - Sandeep Mahajan
AU  - Pankaj Hari
AU  - Arti Kapil
AU  - Bimal Kumar Das
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/01
JO  - Scientific Reports
DO  - 10.1038/s41598-026-70037-z
UR  - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-70037-z
AB  - Uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) is the predominant uropathogen in community-acquired urinary tract infections (CA-UTIs) globally. However, data from India on relationship between antimicrobial resistance, virulence factors, and clonal markers in UPEC remain scarce. We studied 80 ESBL-positive UPEC isolates causing CA-UTI across four Indian regions. Antimicrobial susceptibility done using VITEK-2. PCR assays detected ESBL genes ( bla CTX-M-15 , bla TEM ), carbapenemase genes ( bla NDM , bla OXA-48-like ), virulence genes ( fimH, pap, sfa, hlyA, aer ) and serogroup O25b. Phenotypic virulence assays assessed hemolysin, haemagglutination, biofilm and gelatinase production. All isolates susceptible to fosfomycin, with high susceptibility to nitrofurantoin (87.5%) and ertapenem (85%). Predominant resistance gene was bla CTX-M-15 (97.5%), followed by bla TEM (55%), bla NDM (16.3%) and bla OXA-48-like (5%). Biofilm formation (41.3%) most prevalent virulence trait, followed by haemagglutination (35%). Frequently detected virulence genes were pap (61.3%), fimH (55%), and aer (48.8%). The O25b serogroup found in 41.3% of isolates had lower ertapenem resistance than non-O25b strains. This study shows ESBL-producing UPEC isolates from community settings in India frequently harbour multiple beta-lactamase resistance genes and virulence factors, underscoring their adaptability and clinical threat in CA-UTIs. These findings emphasize the critical need for continued molecular surveillance, strengthened infection control, and robust antibiotic stewardship programs to mitigate the spread of multidrug-resistant, virulent UPEC strains.
SN  - 2045-2322
ER  -

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