Frequency of Fimbrial Virulence Genes (fim, pap, sfa) in Escherichia Coli Isolated from the Patients with Urinary Tract Infections from selective hospitals of Tehran, Boroujerd and Sanandej City in 2015-2016

Urinary tract infection (UTI) caused by E coli is one of the most common diseases in community. Colonization of E. coli and its attachment to the uroepithelium are mediated by adhesions such as P, Fim and S fimbriae. The present study was aimed to evaluate the prevalence of fimbrial virulence genes in Escherichia coli (E. coli) isolates from the patients with urinary tract infection in Tehran, Boroujerd and Sanandaj cities, Iran.
In this descriptive cross sectional study, 150 clinical isolates of uropathogenic E.coli were collected from the patients with urinary tract infection. All bacterial isolates were identified by standard biochemical laboratory methods; the fim, pap and sfa genes were detected using the PCR and Multiplex-PCR methods.
One hundred forty-five (96.66%) isolates were positive for fim gene, one hundred forty (93.33%) isolates were positive for pap gene and seven (4.66) isolates were positive for sfa gene. Whole of the isolates were possessed at least one of the three virulence genes. Six (4%) isolates were positive for all genes.
The findings of this study showed the high frequency of fim and P fimbriae among uropathogenic E.coli isolates from the patients with urinary tract infection. Because of the higher prevalence of UTI in the presence of these genes, detection of the genes in urine samples may help in more suspicious and rapid management of UTI.