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Aims: Hundreds of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) lineages with diverse virulence-associated traits have been reported worldwide. However, the complex interactions between the bacterial traits and host factors remain largely unexplored. This study was aimed to determine the distribution of virulence-associated traits, phylogenetic background and antimicrobial resistance profiles of the UPEC isolates in relation to the host factors. Methodology and results: Polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) were conducted to determine the prevalence of 32 virulence genes (VGs), eight pathogenicity island (PAI) markers and phylogroups of 105 UPEC isolates. The antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the disc diffusion method. Results suggest that the virulenceassociated traits and antimicrobial resistance profiles of the UPEC strains were associated with phylogenetic background, host age and gender. Most of the virulence-associated traits tested were distributed prevalently in phylogroup B2, age group 40-59 and male gender, including papC, papG II_III, papG allele III, sfa/focDE, yfcV, hlyA, cnf1, cdtB, malX, PAI I536, PAI II536, PAI ICFT073, PAI IICFT073 and PAI IIJ96. Besides, higher rates of multidrug resistance (MDR) were significantly associated with non-phylogroup B2 (25/38; 65.8%; p<0.05) and age group 60-79 (29/42; 69.0%; p<0.05) but not with male gender (14/25; 56.0%; p=0.527). The UPEC strains collected from males and age 60-79 were significantly resistant to cefuroxime, cefotaxime and ceftazidime (all p<0.05). Conclusion, significance and impact of study: Research findings elucidate the key molecular characteristics of the UPEC strains in relation to the host age and gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Carpanenamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) has emerged as a threat to hospitalized patients. Phenotypic test such as Modified hodge test was less sensitive and specific especially to detect blaNDM-1 which is the most predominant genotype in this region. Nucleic acid amplification technology offers improved specificity and sensitivity. Failed amplification due to the presence of inhibitors is a limitation. In this study, we tried to use previous method described by Villumseen et al with some modification using another DNA extraction kit. Methods: Ten mls of sterile whole blood taken from nearly expired blood bag from blood bank was spiked with 200 μl of 0.5mcFarland bacterial suspension from thirty-six confirmed isolates of blaNDM-1 carbapenamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in an aerobic Bactec Plus and incubated until the growth was detected. The blood specimen was subjected to DNA extraction method using Macherey-Nachel, Nucleospin® Blood QuickPure followed with multiplex PCR. Results: Out of the 36 isolates, 12 isolates revealed blaNDM-1, 9 isolates revealed blaNDM-1 and blaOXA-48, 7 isolates revealed blaNDM-1, blaVIM and blaKPC genotypes that were amplified at cycle threshold of less than 30. Another 8 isolates could not pick up any genotypes possibly due to pipetting error as all the internal control were amplified. Eight true negative gram negative isolates underwent same procedure and none amplified at a cycle threshold less than 30. Conclusion: This modified method was proved to give a high yield of CPE genotypes with the cycle threshold was set at less than or equal to 30 and able to overcome the presence of PCR inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]