Multi-drug-resistant Escherichia coli in adult male patients with enlarged prostate attending general hospitals in Benue state

The aim of this study was to investigate multi-drug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli in urine of adult male patients with enlarged prostate. Three hundred and sixty-eight samples of urine and blood were collected. Escherichia coli was isolated, purified, and identified and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was determined. Multi-drug resistance test and specific drug resistance genes were assessed. Prevalence of Escherichia coli was high (38.5%) in patients with PSA of 60–79 ng ml⁻¹ and 60% were MDR. The isolates showed highest resistance to tetracycline (53.3.0%) and least to cephalosporins (5%). They had intL and gyrA genes, which are integron, and quinolone resistance genes and sul1 and sul2 which are sulphonamide resistance–associated genes. Levofloxacin, ertapenem, and Augmentin (100% susceptibilities) were considered choice drugs for treatment of Escherichia coli infection in patients with elevated PSA.