Study of Correlation between Antimicrobial Resistance and Biofilm Production among Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli Isolated from Patients Suspected of Urinary Tract Infection

Background & objectives: Escherichia coli is a primary causative agent of recurrent urogenital infections. Biofilm producing strains causes recurrent and chronic UTI and they exhibit multidrug resistance. Our study aims to estimate the prevalence of biofilm production in the isolated Uropathogenic Escherichia coli strainsand to correlate the association of biofilm production with their resistance pattern to commonly used antimicrobials. Materials and methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted from August-November 2021 in Department of Microbiology, MKCG MCH, Berhampur, Odisha that included urine samples of all suspected UTI patients. Specimens were inoculated on CLED agar plate, then incubated at 37?C for 24 hours under aerobic conditions. By standard microbiological methods, the isolates were identified. Isolates of Escherichia coli with significant bacteriuria were processed for biofilm detection by Congo Red Agar method, Tube method and TCP method. Antimicrobial Susceptibility testing was performed by Kirby?Bauer disc diffusion method following recent CLSI guidelines. Results: Of the 102 Escherichia colistrains, 49 (48.03%) and 53 (51.96%) were from catheterized and Non-catheterized patients respectively. Biofilm production by CRA, TM, and TCP method were 61 (59.80%), 70 (68.62%), and 78 (76.47%) respectively. Biofilm producers showed maximum resistance to Cefotaxime, Levofloxacin and Amoxycillin-Clavulanic acid when compared to nonbiofilm producers. Conclusion: Biofilm producing Escherichia coli strains exhibits higher resistance to most of the commonly used antimicrobials than non producers.