ISSN: 0973-7510

E-ISSN: 2581-690X

Research Article | Open Access
Siham A. Al-Arosi , Saleh S. Bahaj and Ahmed Y. Al-Jaufy
Department of Medical Microbiology and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana’a University, Sanaa, Republic of Yemen.
Article Number: 10704 | © The Author(s). 2026
J Pure Appl Microbiol. 2026;20(1):303-311. https://doi.org/10.22207/JPAM.20.1.17
Received: 19 June 2025 | Accepted: 27 August 2025 | Published online: 06 February 2026
Issue online: March 2026
Abstract

Resistance to antibiotics poses a major challenge, especially in cases of urinary tract infections attributed to Escherichia coli. The rise of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing and aminoglycoside-resistant strains complicates treatment. This research focused on identifying the occurrence of both phenotypically confirmed ESBL and AME genes in E. coli isolated from patients with UTIs in Sana’a, Yemen. This cross-sectional study encompassed a sample of 378 patients at Al-Kuwait University Hospital, Sana’a. Midstream urine samples were cultured and E. coli isolates identified via standard methods. Susceptibility to antimicrobial agents was determined through the Kirby-Bauer method, following the guidelines issued by CLSI in 2019. ESBL production was phenotypically detected and AME genes (aac(6′)-Ib, aac(3′)-IIa, aph(3′)-Ia, and ant(2”)-Ia) were detected via multiplex PCR. Among 378 samples, 167 E. coli isolates were identified (44.18%), of which 76 (45.5%) were ESBL-producers. AME genes were detected in 52.6% of ESBL isolates, with aac(6′)-Ib being most frequent (39.47%), followed by ant(2”)-Ia (31.58%) and aph(3′)-Ia (11.84%). Co-occurrence of ≥2 AME genes was seen in 36.4% of isolates. Risk factors for resistance included catheterization, hospitalization, and older age. The study identified a high rate of dual antimicrobial resistance among E. coli isolates in Yemen underscores the need for enhanced molecular surveillance and antimicrobial stewardship programs. Empiric therapies should prioritize amikacin and carbapenems in high-risk cases.

Keywords

Escherichia coli, ESBL, Aminoglycoside-Modifying Enzymes, Antimicrobial Resistance, Urinary Tract Infection, Yemen

Article Metrics

Article View: 244

Share This Article

© The Author(s) 2026. Open Access. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License which permits unrestricted use, sharing, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.