Detection of Beta-lactamase Genes in Uropathogens of Diabetic and Non-diabetic Subjects in Eleme General Hospital, Rivers State, Nigeria

One of the leading antimicrobial resistance mechanisms for many uropathogens among diabetic subjects is Extended–Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) enzyme production which has become a public health concern. The aim of the study is to investigate the presence of Beta-Lactamase genes (TEM gene, CTX-M gene and SHV gene) in uropathogens of diabetic and non-diabetic subjects in Eleme, Rivers State. The 16s rRNA classification of bacteria was used and isolates were identified as Staphylococcus aureus, Serratia marcescens, Serratia ficana, Kluyvera sp., Escherichia coli, Klebsiella aerogenes, Pragia fontium, Kocuria palustris, Pantoea dispersa, Enterobacter hormaechie, Enterobacter mori, and Morganella morganii. Isolates were screened for resistant genes of blaTEM(Temoniera), blaCTX-M(Cefotaxime Munich) and blaSHV(Sulfydryl Variable). These genes were identified using the 27F: 5- AGAGTTTGATCMTGGCTCAG-3 and 1492R: 5-CGGTTACCTTGTTACGACTT-3 primers on a AB19700 Applied Biosystems thermal cycle at a final volume of 40 microlitres for 35 cycles (Polymerase Chain Reaction). Twenty (20) multi drug resistant isolates (antimicrobial resistance shown by a species of micro-organism to at least one antimicrobial drug in three or more antimicrobial category) were investigated for the presence of ESBL resistant genes and 17 were found to possess ESBL genes representing 85% of the isolates investigated. The study revealed that CTX-M had an overall percentage prevalence of 41.2%, TEM had 35.3% and SHV had 23.5% respectively. A statistical significance of p=0.0195 was observed in the SHV gene in the distribution pattern of ESBL genes. The TEM and CTX-M genes had p=0.9999 and p=0.8282 respectively which showed no statistical significance.