A Systematic Review on Escherichia coli in Urinary Tract Infections: Prevalence, Resistance Patterns, and Virulence Factors

Escherichia coli is commonly known as the bacteria that causes Urinary tract infections. uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) causes both uncomplicated and complicated UTIs. This study analyzes the recent studies to analyze the prevalence, resistance patterns, and virulence factors of Escherichia coli (E. coli) isolates in urinary tract infections (UTIs). With the use of the PRISMA methodology framework, 31 articles were initially gathered and narrowed to 10 articles after applying the inclusion criteria as well as screening the papers for eligibility according to the objectives. The findings highlight that E. coli is the primary bacterial cause of UTIs across diverse age groups, with the highest incidence in individuals aged 0-20. Data on antibiotic resistance patterns, analyzed from five key articles, revealed high resistance levels in E. coli, particularly against Ampicillin, which has a rate of 82.53% from 395 E. Coli isolates. Additionally, the review identified various virulence factors in uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC), with the fimH gene—an adhesin associated with type 1 fimbrial pili—exhibiting the highest prevalence (94.9%). This factor enhances UPEC's ability to adhere to and invade urinary tract epithelial cells, aiding its persistence and pathogenicity. The study’s findings can inform clinical practices, supporting effective antibiotic choices and the development of targeted treatments for UTIs.