Rezvan Goodarzi - Dept. of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
Rasoul Yousefimashouf - Dept. of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
Iraj Sedighi - Dept. of Pediatric, Faculty of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
Abbas Moradi - Dept. of Community Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
Fatemeh Nouri - Dept. of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
Mohammad Taheri - Dept. of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

Original Articles - Medical Biology (Article Number: e۱۵۰۸۳) Background and Objective: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common infections in children worldwide and Escherichia coli is the main pathogen that can cause UTI. The current study aims to investigate the antibacterial susceptibility pattern, biofilm production, and determine the frequency of afa and sfa genes in E. coli strains isolated from pediatrics with UTI from ۲۰۱۸ to ۲۰۱۹ in Hamadan, Iran. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, ۱۱۲ E. coli strains were collected from children with UTI. Disc diffusion method was performed to determine antimicrobial susceptibility. The PCR was used to detect the existence of afa and sfa genes. A microtiter plate assay was performed to test the biofilm production ability. Results: ۸۱ (۷۲.۳۲%) of the ۱۱۲ E. coli strains isolated from UTI samples were positive for biofilm development (۲۲.۲% strong, ۳۳.۳% moderate, and ۴۴.۴% weak). The afa and sfa genes were detected in ۲۹.۴% and ۴۹.۱% of the isolates, respectively. Most isolates were resistant to cephalothin (۷۶.۷۹%) and sensitive to imipenem and meropenem (۱۰۰%). Conclusion: The afa and sfa genes have a significant correlation with strong biofilm formation in uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC).

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli, Drug Resistance, Biofilm, afa and sfa genes, Urinary Tract Infection