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Antimicrobial Resistance Pattern in E. coli Isolated from Placental Tissues of Pregnant Women in Low-Socioeconomic Setting of Pakistan

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Abstract

Infections during pregnancy can culminate in adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth (PTB). Pakistan is among the top ten nations with high PTB-associated neonatal mortality rates, where access to prenatal as well as neonatal care is only afforded by the privileged few. Societal stigma further discourages women seeking healthcare for minor infections. Microbial pathogens associated with genitourinary infections can lead to gestational complications culminating in earlier onset of labor. In this study, association of Escherichia coli (E. coli) with PTB in Pakistani women of low-socioeconomic status is examined. 57 paired vaginal swabs and placenta samples from mothers with full term and preterm deliveries were collected and processed for isolation and molecular characterization of extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC). ExPEC isolated from vaginal swabs and placenta showed phylotype B2 being most prevalent (Vagina n = 3 (9), 33%) (Placenta n = 4 (12), 33%) in preterm cases followed by phylotype B1 (Vagina n = 2 (9), 22%) (Placenta n = 3 (12), 25%) and untypeable strains. Antibiotic susceptibility profiling showed a large percentage of resistant isolates to multiple antibiotics, including carbapenem and included extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producers. Our study is the first to report different phylotypes of E. coli from placental tissues in preterm deliveries which may be a cause for concern for maternal and neonatal health.

Graphical Abstract

ExPEC from vaginal swabs and placental of females delivering preterm shows the pathogenic phylotype B2 dominance with a large percentage of isolates resistant to multiple antibiotics, including carbapenem and included ESBL producers. The placental isolates may indicate ascending infection from vagina or urinary tract which may lead to preterm birth.

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Fig. 1

Data Availability

The data underlying this article will be shared on reasonable request to the corresponding author.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Sohail Aslam and Hafiz Umer Farooqi for their help in sample transport and storage.

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Author notes

  1. Viqar Sayeed Saraf and Theophilus Bhatti have equal contribution to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Public Health and Microbiology Lab, Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Park road, Tarlai Kalan, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Viqar Sayeed Saraf, Theophilus Bhatti, Sundus Javed & Habib Bokhari

  2. Kohsar University Murree, Kashmir point, Murree, Punjab, Pakistan

    Habib Bokhari

Authors
  1. Viqar Sayeed Saraf
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  2. Theophilus Bhatti
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  3. Sundus Javed
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  4. Habib Bokhari
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Contributions

VS and TB collected and analyzed samples. VS and SJ drafted the manuscript. SJ edited the manuscript. HB designed experiment, edited, and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Sundus Javed or Habib Bokhari.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

Study was approved by the COMSATS ethical review board (letter no: CIIT/Bio/ERB/16/01).

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Saraf, V.S., Bhatti, T., Javed, S. et al. Antimicrobial Resistance Pattern in E. coli Isolated from Placental Tissues of Pregnant Women in Low-Socioeconomic Setting of Pakistan. Curr Microbiol 79, 83 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-022-02769-w

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