title: Characterization of integrons among Escherichia coli in a region at high incidence of ESBL-EC.
abstract: Objective : The aim of study was to investigate the distribution of the integrons in Escherichia coli (E. coli) isolates, and analyze the possible relationship between the antimicrobial resistance profiles and the integrons. Methods : The antimicrobial profiles of 376 E. coli strains were analysed by disk diffusion test. The integron genes and variable regions were detected by PCR. Some amplicons were sequenced to determine the gene cassettes style. Results : Of 376 isolates, 223 isolates (59.3%) were confirmed as ESBL-EC. Comparison to ESBL-negative E. coli, the high rates of resistance to the third and fourth generation of cephalosporins, penicillins and amikacin were found in ESBL-EC. Only class 1 was integron detected in the isolates, and the prevalence of it was 66.5%. It was commonly found in ESBL-EC (77.6%, 173/223), which was higher than that of ESBL-negative E. coli (50.3%, 77/153) (p<0.001). Six different genes cassettes were detected in this study and were classified into three groups: dfr17-aadA5, dfrA12-aadA2 and aacA4-CmlA1. Additionally, more than one gene array harboured in 13.9% isolates of ESBL-EC, while in 9.1% isolates of ESBL-negative E.coli. Conclusion : The high incidence of ESBL-EC with resistance to multiple antibiotics were detected in the isolates from Blood stream infection (BSI). More resistant gene cassettes in ESBL-EC may partially underlie the high resistance to amikacin, while no relation exists between the high incidence of ESBL-EC and classes 1~ 3 integrons in this region.
authors.affiliation: Lu-Ming Li, Ming-Yi Wang, Department of Clinical Lab, Department of Cardiovasology, Weihai Municipal Hospital affiliated to Dalian Medical University, Weihai, Shandong, 264200, PR China.
authors.forename: Lu-Ming
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Lu-Ming Li, Ming-Yi Wang, Department of Clinical Lab, Department of Cardiovasology, Weihai Municipal Hospital affiliated to Dalian Medical University, Weihai, Shandong, 264200, PR China.
authors.forename: Ming-Yi
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Xiao-Yan Yuan, Department of Clinical Lab, Weihai Municipal Hospital affiliated to Dalian Medical University, Weihai, Shandong, 264200, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Hong-Jun Wang, Weihai Municipal Hospital affiliated to Dalian Medical University, Weihai, Shandong, 264200, PR China.
authors.forename: Hong-Jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Qin Li, Weihai Municipal Hospital affiliated to Dalian Medical University, Weihai, Shandong, 264200, PR China.
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: YA-Mei Zhu, Weihai Municipal Hospital affiliated to Dalian Medical University, Weihai, Shandong, 264200, PR China.
authors.forename: Ya-Mei
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Zhu
keywords: Blood stream infection; ESBL-EC; Gene cassette.; Integron