ESBL-Producing Escherichia coli Bacteremia: Association Between Virulence-Factor Burden, Source of Infection, and Clinical Features

(1)

Background

Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli are important causes of bacteremia, but integrated genotype-virulence-outcome data from low- and middle-income settings are limited; (2)

Methods

Observational study of ESBL-producing E. coli (ESBL Ec) bacteremia at Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia (2022-2024). ESBL production was confirmed phenotypically and ESBL genes by PCR; eight ExPEC-associated virulence genes (fimH, hlyA, iutA, cvaC, iha, traT, ompT, papC) were detected by multiplex PCR and summed into a virulence-factor (VF) burden, classifying patients into low- and high-VF groups. (3)