Abstract

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This study was undertaken to determine the antibiotic resistance and plasmid profile of Escherichia coli isolated from pregnant women in Umuahia. A total of 250 midstream urine samples from pregnant women were analyzed and cultured on cystein lactose electrolyte deficient (CLED) agar and MacConkey agar. Antibiotic susceptibility test was done by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Plasmid profiling was also carried out on highly resistant isolates. E. coli isolated from the pregnant women showed 100% resistance to amoxicillin and tetracycline. Thirty, 30 (50.8%) of the E. coli isolates showed potential to produce biofilm. Extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production among E. coli isolates was found to be 12 (20.3%) while 2 (3.4%) isolates produced chromosomal ambler C (AmpC). Imipenem and gentamicin should be the antibiotic of choice for treating UTI in the study area because they showed very high sensitivity to the antibiotics used. Screening of pregnant women for possible UTI at early stage of pregnancy should be considered an essential care in the study environment to avoid complications in pregnancy.

Keywords: Antibiotic resistance, E. coli, plasmid, pregnant women