Abstract

STUDIES ON THE PREVALENCE OF ESCHERICHIA COLI IN THE URINARY TRACT INFECTION OF NORMAL AND PREGNANT WOMEN.

Hazel D Souza, Prasad M.P.*

Abstract

Some strains of Escherichia coli produce cytotoxins (verotoxin 1 and 2 or shiga-toxin 1 and 2 and shiga toxin variants). Verotoxins (VT) or shiga toxins (ST) produced by some E. coli strains damage endothelial cells in both kidney and brain, causing renal failure and neurological complications. The present study deals with the presence of pathogenic verotoxin producing multiple drug resistance Escherichia coli causing Urinary tract infection. In the present investigation urine samples positive for urinary tract infections from both normal and pregnant women were screened for the presence of E.coli. The urine samples were collected from different hospitals and pathology labs in Bangalore. The samples were plated on Nutrient agar and checked for Gram negative bacilli which were further plated on Eosin methylene Blue (EMB) agar for the characterization of metallic green sheen producing E.coli from other organisms. The present study revealed that of the 153 samples taken 71 showed positive for E.coli. The ratio of pregnant to non pregnant women positive to E.coli infection was found to be 1:3 with 52 and 17 positive metallic green colonies showing Gram –ve bacilli. The assessment provides a potential for sourcing novel antibiotic substances for chemotherapy against numerous resistant pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli.

Keywords: Escherichia coli, Multidrug resistant, Verotoxin, Urinary tract infection