20.500.12556/RUL-153248 QAC resistance genes in ESBL-producing E. coli isolated from patients with lower respiratory tract infections in the Central Slovenia region—a 21-year survey Biocidal products prevent the spread of pathogenic microorganisms, including extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-EC), which is one of the most alarming health problems worldwide. Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are surface-active agents that interact with the cytoplasmic membrane and are widely used in hospitals and food processing environments. A collection of 577 ESBL-EC, isolated from lower respiratory tract (LRT) samples, was screened for QAC resistance genes oqxA; oqxB; qacE∆1; qacE; qacF/H/I; qacG; sugE (p); emrE; mdfA; sugE (c); ydgE; ydgF; and for class 1, 2, and 3 integrons. The prevalence of chromosome-encoded genes ranged from 77 to 100%, while the prevalence of QAC resistance genes encoded on mobile genetic elements (MGEs) was relatively low (0–0.9%), with the exception of qacE∆1 (54.6%). PCR screening detected the presence of class 1 integrons in 36.3% (n = 210) of isolates, which were positively correlated with qacE∆1. More correlations between QAC resistance genes, integrons, sequence type group ST131, and β-lactamase genes were presented. The results of our study confirm the presence of QAC resistance genes and also class 1 integrons commonly found in multidrug-resistant clinical isolates and highlight the potential role of QAC resistance genes in the selection of ESBL-producing E. coli in hospitals. Escherichia coli lower respiratory tract extended-spectrum β-lactamases resistance gene QAC lower respiratory tract samples Escherichia coli izolati spodnje dihalne poti β-laktamaze razširjeno delovanje rezistenčni geni QAC true false true Angleški jezik Slovenski jezik Članek v reviji 2023-12-20 16:10:14 2023-12-20 16:10:15 2024-01-27 03:58:16 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2023 0 0 12 str. iss. 5, art. 273 Vol. 8 2023 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 579 2414-6366 10.3390/tropicalmed8050273 152196611 tropicalmed-08-00273-v2.pdf tropicalmed-08-00273-v2.pdf 1 4F7382D0A99C274B323A0093064A27AB 7e6ebcdc178364159016bb382b96ce4ccb18fc2c96c718902e332986bdfa8a32 1510368c-bc4a-11ee-9241-0050569b8976 https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=180341 https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/8/5/273 1 e0b024fa-9f49-11ee-8a8e-0050569b8976 https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=179175 Biotehniška fakulteta Medicinska fakulteta 0 0 0