Virulence Factors Associated with Quinolone Resistance in Proteus Species Isolated from Patients with Urinary Tract Infection

Abstract

Background: Proteus is an important causative organism of urinary system infections. The invasive nature of Proteus is supported by expression of multiple virulence factors; the infection outcome gets worse when those virulent isolates acquire antibiotic resistant determinants. Objectives: The present study was aiming at isolation of Proteus from urine of patients with urinary tract infections (UTIs) and to assess the relation between virulence factors expression and presence of quinolones resistance genes in those isolates. Methodology: Quinolone resistant Proteus isolates were chosen for detection of quinolone resistance genes, also they were tested for presence of different virulence factors. Results: Sixty eight quinolone resistant Proteus isolates were determined. aac(6′)- Ib-cr was the most frequently detected quinolone resistance gene. Haemagglutination, haemolytic activity, protease production and biofilm formation were documented in 79.4%, 76.5%, 70.6% and 83.8% of the isolates respectively. Conclusion: Proteus isolated from urine displayed many virulence factors and harbored a variety of quinolone resistance genes.