Genetic Characterization of Plasmid-mediated qepA Gene Among ESBL-producing Escherichia Coli Isolates in Mexico

Abstract A molecular characterization of a plasmid-born qepA gene in (ESBL)-producing E. coli clinical isolates were performed. An 2.63% (11/418) were qepA positive isolates, of which a 90.0% carried CTX-M-15 (9/11) and SHV-12 (1/11). All isolates showed chromosomal mutations in the gyrA and parC genes. The clonal groups A, B and C were identified and belonged to, respectively, phylogroups A, B1 and D, as well as the sequence types 205, 405 and 617. Several plasmid profiles were determined with incompatibility groups FIA, FIB and FII. The genetic environment of the qepA in plasmid pEC8020 was different from those reported previously. The plasmid sequence included genes conferring resistance to β-lactams (blaCTX-M-15), macrolides (mphA), fluoroquinolones (qepA1), trimethoprim (dfrB4) and sulphonamides (sul1). Likewise, the IncF-pEC8020 plasmid carried several insertion sequences including ISCR3, IS6100 and multiple copies of IS26. This work contributes to the epidemiology and genetics of plasmid-born qepA genes of ESBL-producing E. coli.