Phenotypic identification on the virulence status of Escherichia coli strains isolated from the clinical specimens of tertiary care teaching hospital, Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Introduction: Escherichia coli is belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae and it mostly isolated in Urinary tract Infection, diarrheal, Respiratory infections as well as normal commensal in the intestine of humans.

Aim:To determine the virulence status of Escherichia coli isolated from clinical samples using hemolytic activity, sorbitol fermentation and invasiveness.

Materials and Methods:This Cross-sectional study was carried out for a period of six months from (June 2020 – December 2020),in the department of microbiology, Superspeciality Hospital, Chennai with a total 250 specimens of urine as well as stool samples received from different clinical departments.

Result:Among 88 E. coli strains, 32 (36.3%) were collected from faeces and 56 (63.6%) from Urine samples for this research study. Out of 88 patients, 47(53.4%) were female and 41 (46.5%) male patients. In the present study, only 51 isolates (57.95%) showed hemolytic and remaining 37 (42.04%) were non hemolytic activity. In sorbitol MacConkey (SMAC) agar tested, 54 (61.36%) ferment sorbitol and 34 (38.63%) non sorbitol fermenters. Out of 88 isolates, 33 (37.5%) showed virulent and remaining 55 (62.5%) were non-virulent. 

Conclusion:This preliminary study insists that to include at least one biochemical marker in the routine diagnostic assay for the detection of virulence status of pathogenicE. coli strains from faeces and urine samples.