oa Uropathogens from Qatari type 2 diabetics with asymptomatic bacteriuria: Antibiotic sensitivity, virulence factors and phylogenetic groups of isolated Escherichia coli

The urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections in diabetic patients, especially asymptomatic bacteriuria. The aim of this study is to investigate the causative organisms of ABU in type 2 diabetic patients, the phylogenetic grouping and the antibiotic sensitivity pattern of the causative organism in order to determine the drug of choice to cure ASB in diabetics. One hundred & sixty eight men were recruited from attendants of the out-patients clinics at the Army Force Medical Unit in Qatar and were divided into two groups; Group 1 (130 type 2 diabetics) and Group 2 (38 non-diabetic subjects). We found that 20% of diabetic patients had ASB and Escherichia coli was the most prevalent pathogen (92.31%). Genotypic study showed that the most prevalent E. coli groups responsible for UTI belonged to group A and B2 (33.3% for each group). Moreover , Nitrofurantoin was the most sensitive antibiotic for the groups B2, B1 ,D (100%) and 75% for group A. Phenotypic study by SEM showed that there is variation in the diameter. The B1 group had the largest width and length (L= 2.391 ± 0.483)(W=622.667 ± 51.215) while group D was the shortest (L=1.876 ± 0.247) and group A had the lowest width (W=580.21 ± 44.93). Further comparison of virulence factors with symptomatic diabetics is required to determine why ASB lacked symptoms in spite of the presence of virulent genes.