Class 1 integrons gene in drug resistant e. Coli and isolated from different clinical specimens in jazan area k.s.a

Background: in the recent years, there is emergence and dissemination of E. coli strains resistance to broad-spectrum of antimicrobial agents. Resistance in bacteria is largely due to the genetic exchange of resistance genes, and this exchange are due to genes called integrons. Objectives: the aim of this study were to assess the presence of class 1 integrons in drug resistance E. coli in the study area, and to analyze the association between the gene and MDR in bacteria. Methods: One hundred and eighty of E. coli isolates from different clinical samples , 72 from wounds, 62 from urine, 35 from stool, and 11 from blood, were included in this study, isolates were collected and selected from Jazan general hospital laboratories, Jazan K.S.A. The susceptibility testing was performed by disk diffusion method. Class 1 integrons was detected by PCR. Results: Class 1 integrons was detected in 98 out of 180 of isolates with frequency 54.4%, while the frequency of negative class 1 integrons was 45.6%. MDR was found in 77%, and the association between the presence of an integrons and multidrug resistance was significant (p<0.05), with frequency 98.9%. Integron 1 gene was present among different isolates sample sources, with majority in isolates from urine sample. Conclusion: most of resistant E. coli are carrying class 1 integrons, which were of crucial importance for the occurrence and transmission of multidrug resistance, and the proportions of drug resistance in class 1 intigron positive strains were higher than in those not carrying integrons.