Antibiotic Resistance and Detection of Qnr Genes in isolated Uropathogenic Bacteria from Patients with Urinary Catheters

Eric Joël TAHOU^1, , Kouadio Fernique KONAN², Bertin Konan TIEKOURA², Assanvo Simon-Pierre N’GUETTA¹ and Kouadio Nathalie GUESSENND²

¹Félix Houphouët-Boigny University, Faculty of Biosciences, Laboratory of Biotechnology, Agriculture and Valorization of Biological Resources, Côte d’Ivoire, 22 BP 582 Abidjan 22

²Antibiotics, Natural Substances and Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Unit of the Pasteur Institute of Côte d’Ivoire, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, 01 BP 490 Abidjan 01

Cite this paper:
Eric Joël TAHOU, Kouadio Fernique KONAN, Bertin Konan TIEKOURA, Assanvo Simon-Pierre N’GUETTA and Kouadio Nathalie GUESSENND. Antibiotic Resistance and Detection of Qnr Genes in isolated Uropathogenic Bacteria from Patients with Urinary Catheters. American Journal of Microbiological Research. 2026; 14(1):1-6. doi: 10.12691/ajmr-14-1-1

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria is a serious global public health problem. This study aimed to characterize antibiotic resistance genes in patients with urinary catheters. The study involved bacterial strain collection, antibiotic susceptibility testing, and molecular characterization for the detection of genes mediated by fluoroquinolone resistance. A total of 81 strains were collected. Strain distribution showed that Staphylococcus aureus was the most prevalent species (44.44%, n=36). Resistance profiling showed that coagulase-negative Staphylococcus strains (n=12) and Acinetobacter baumannii strains (n=5) expressed 100% resistance to cefoxitin and all tested beta-lactam antibiotics, respectively. Acinetobacter baumannii was resistant to ciprofloxacin (100%, n=5). However, amikacin showed greater activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=28) and Acinetobacter baumannii (n=5) strains, with 25% and 0% activity, respectively. Molecular gene characterization identified the qnr A, qnr B, and qnr S genes. The strains exhibited a high diversity of resistance genes, with 12.5%, 77.5%, and 60% observed in qnr A, qnr B, and qnr S, respectively. Co-expression of fluoroquinolone resistance genes was demonstrated in 30 strains. This study highlights the high prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and underscores the crucial role of microbiological and molecular surveillance of bacteria. The results highlight the need for rigorous antibiotic management to prevent the spread of resistant strains.

Keywords:
Antibiotic resistance uropathogens urinary catheter co-expression

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References:

[1]	World Health Organization (WHO), Antimicrobial resistance. Fact sheets. Disponible sur: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antimicrobial-resistance 2020.
[2]	Davies, J. and Davies, D, Origins and evolution of antibiotic resistance. Microbiology and Mol. Biol Rev. 74(3):417-433 Septembre 2010.
[3]	Lardi D, Impact of efflux in fluoroquinolone and ethium bromide resistance in Clostridium difficile. Thèse de doctorat, Université Paris 11. Disponible sur: https:// theses.fr/ 2005PA114822, 2005.
[4]	Ventola, C.L, The antibiotic resistance crisis: part 1: causes and threats. P T. 40(4):277-283, Avril 2015.
[5]	Public Health France, National Surveillance of Fluoroquinolone Resistance in Urinary Escherichia coli Isolates 2015-2019. 2020. Available at: https://www.santepubliquefrance.fr/maladies-et-traumatismes/ infections- associees- aux-soins-et-resistance-aux-antibiotiques/ resistance-aux-antibiotiques/ documents/ article/ surveillance-nationale-de-la-resistance-aux-cephalosporines-de-3e-generation-et-aux-fluoroquinolones-des-isolats-urinaires-d-escherichia-coli.
[6]	Nsofor, C.M., Tattfeng, M.Y. and Nsofor, C.A, High prevalence of qnrA and qnrB genes among fluoroquinolone-resistant Escherichia coli isolates from a tertiary hospital in southern Nigeria. Bull Natl Res Cent 45, 26. Décember 2021.
[7]	Mabika, M.R. Mounioko, F., Souza, A. and Yala, J.F, Phenotypic and molecular characterization of quinolone resistance in enteropathogens isolated from diarrhea in young children in Koula-Moutou, Gabon. Egypt. J. Basic Appl. Sci, 8 (1), 345–353. Novembre 2021.
[8]	Kouakou, M.F., Toty, A.A., Gadou, V., M’Bengue, G.V., Konan, K.F., Guédé, K.B., Ouattara, M.B., Tiécoura, K., Guessennd, N. and Dosso, M, Detection of qnr Genes That Mediate Fluoroquinolone Resistance in Gram-Negative Bacilli in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. Am. J. Microbiol. Res, 11(3), 79-82. October 2023.
[9]	EUCAST-CASFM: Antibiogram Committee of the French Society of Microbiology (2023). https:// www.sfmmicrobiolo-gie.org/ wpcontent/ uploads/2023/06/CASFM2023_V1.0.pdf.
[10]	Genao, L. and Buhr, G.T, Urinary Tract Infections in Older Adults Residing in Long-Term Care Facilities. Ann Longterm Care; 20(4):33-38. April 2012.
[11]	Otto, M, Staphylococcus aureus toxins. Curr Opin Microbiol. 17:32-7. February 2014.
[12]	Poole, K, Pseudomonas aeruginosa: resistance to the max. Front Microbiol. 2:65. April 2011.
[13]	Peleg, A.Y., Seifert, H. and Paterson D.L, Acinetobacter baumannii: emergence of a successful pathogen. Clin Microbiol Rev. 21(3):538-582. July 2008.
[14]	Sanou, A., Gnada, K., Traore, I. and Sanou, S, Frequency and microbiological profiles of urinary tract infections in patients with indwelling catheters at the Bacteriology Laboratory of the Muraz Center. Science and Technology, Health Sci., 44(2), 72–79. April 2024.
[15]	Foxman, B, Urinary tract infection syndromes: occurrence, recurrence, bacteriology, risk factors, and disease burden. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 28(1): 1-13. Mars 2024.
[16]	Martins, M.A., Santos, S., Leão L.S., Araújo, N.P. and Bachion, M.M, Prevalence of resistance phenotypes in Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative isolates from venous ulcers in primary care patients. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop; 45(6): 717-22. December 2012.
[17]	Kahl, B.C., Becker, K. and Löffler, B, Clinical Significance and Pathogenesis of Staphylococci in the Human Microbiome. Clin Microbiol Rev.; 29(2):401-27. April 2016.
[18]	Becker, K., Heilmann C. and Peters, G, (2014). coagulase-negative Staphylococci. Clin Microbiol Rev., 27(4):870-926. October 2014.
[19]	Elouennass, M., Bajou, T., Lemnouer, A.H., Foissaud, V.H.V. and Baaj, A.J, Acinetobacter baumannii: Study of the susceptibility of strains isolated at the Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital, Rabat, Morocco. Med Infect Dis, (33) 7, P. 361-364. July 2003.
[20]	Krir, A. Dhraief, S. Messadi, A. A. and Thabet, L, Bacteriological profile and antibiotic resistance of bacteria isolated in a burn intensive care unit over seven years. Ann Burns Fire Disasters, 32(3):197-202. September 2019.
[21]	Mellouli, A., Maamar, B., Bouzakoura, F., Messadi, A.A. and Thabet, L, Colonization and infection with Acinetobacter baumannii in a burn intensive care unit in Tunisia. Ann Burns Fire Disasters. 34(3):218-225. Septembre 2021.
[22]	Robicsek, A., Jacoby, G.A. and Hooper, D.C, The worldwide emergence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance. Lancet Infect Dis., 6(10), 629-640. October 2006.
[23]	Ezeh, P. A., Olayinka, B. O. and Bolaji, R.O, Plasmid Mediated Quinolone Resistance in Enterobacteriaceae: A Review, NJM, 34(1):-4962-4976.
[24]	Poirel, L., Cattoir, V and Nordmann, P, Plasmid-Mediated Quinolone Resistance; Interactions between Human, Animal, and Environmental Ecologies. Front Microbiol. 2; 3: 24. February 2012.