ESTIMATION THE PATHOGENESIS OF ENTEROBACTER CLOACAE ISOLATED FROM HIGH VAGINAL SWAB IN PREGNANT WOMEN
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48047/xr72r597Keywords:
HVS, Enterobacter cloacae, Susceptibility test, Biofilm formation, Catheter adhesionAbstract
Any opportunistic Gram-negative pathogen, Enterobacter cloacae with key epidemiological features such as acquisition of antimicrobial resistance along with high adhesion to a surface leading to biofilms. To isolate and characterization of E.cloacae from High vaginal swab (HVS); to determine its antimicrobial susceptibility pattern, biofilm forming ability and catheter adherence. Samples of HVS were processed and E. cloacae was isolated in 4% of samples confirmed by VITEK® 2 system. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed that all isolates were highly susceptible to most of antibiotics, particularly meropenem, gentamicin, tobramycin and many cephalosporins and least susceptible to ciprofloxacin Biofilm thickness quantification showed that isolates were able to produce biofilm in mixed populations ranging from weak to strong producers. In addition, catheter adhesion testing demonstrated strong adherence ability in all isolates, with high adhesion index values (9.47–12.60). In conclusion, although E. cloacae was infrequently isolated from HVS samples, the isolates exhibited significant virulence traits, including biofilm formation and strong adhesion, which may contribute to persistence and clinical relevance in gynecological infections.
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