WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

Hatem Sahib Abed Al-Owidi, Seyed Masoud Hosseini* and Zainab Mohammed Jassim

ABSTRACT

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by Escherichia coli are among the most prevalent bacterial infections worldwide, often associated with biofilm formation and multidrug resistance, which complicate treatment strategies. This study aimed to investigate the immunological and molecular characteristics of E. coli isolates from patients with UTIs, focusing on their ability to form biofilms and their possession of antibiotic resistance genes. A total of 140 urine samples were collected from patients in three major hospitals. Biofilm formation was assessed phenotypically using the tissue culture plate (TCP) method and Congo Red Agar (CRA), while molecular detection of biofilm-related and resistance genes was carried out using PCR. The study found a high prevalence of biofilm-forming isolates, with significant correlation to the presence of genes such as fimH, papC, and blaTEM. Moreover, antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed high levels of resistance to commonly used antibiotics, including ampicillin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and ciprofloxacin. These findings highlight the urgent need for improved diagnostic tools and targeted therapeutic approaches to manage biofilm-associated, multidrug-resistant E. coli infections.