detection of fimh gene in uropathogenic escherichia coli strains isolated from patients with urinary tract infection

Background: urinary tract infections (utis) are one of main health problems caused by many microorganisms, including uropathogenic escherichia coli (upec). upec strains are the most frequent pathogens responsible for 85% and 50% of community and hospital acquired utis, respectively. upec strains have special virulence factors, including type 1 fimbriae, which can result in worsening of utis.objectives: this study was performed to detect type 1 fimbriae (the fimh gene) among upec strains by molecular method. materials and methods: a total of 140 isolated e. coli strains from patients with uti were identified using biochemical tests and then evaluated for the fimh gene by polymerase chain reaction (pcr) analysis. results: the upec isolates were identified using biochemical tests and were screened by pcr. the fimh gene was amplified using specific primers and showed a band about 164 bp. the fimh gene was found in 130 isolates (92.8%) of the upec strains. of 130 isolates positive for the fimh gene, 62 (47.7%) and 68 (52.3%) belonged to hospitalized patients and outpatients, respectively. conclusions: the results of this study indicated that more than 90% of e. coli isolates harbored the fimh gene. the high binding ability of fimh could result in the increased pathogenicity of e. coli; thus, fimh could be used as a possible diagnostic marker and/or vaccine candidate.