ABSTRACT
Aim: The study was conducted to determine the presence of extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) among Escherichia coli isolates recovered from the urine of patients in Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Medical Services, Abuja, Nigeria using a phenotypic and molecular method. Methodology: Forty five (45) confirmed E. coli recovered from urine of patients with suspected UTIs were obtained; Phenotypic detection of ESBL was done on isolates resistant to cefotaxime and ceftazidime by the double disc synergy test method. Molecular detection of ESBL genes in phenotypically confirmed ESBL producers was done using Polymerase Chain Reaction. Results: Of the 40 cefotaxime and ceftazidime-resistant isolates tested, 12 (30.0%) were phenotypically confirmed as ESBL producers. ESBL genes were detected in the order (blaTEM: blaSHV: blaCTX-M): 75.0%: 58.3%: 25.0%. Some (16.7%) of the ESBL isolates harboured both blaTEM and blaSHV; and some harboured other combinations of the ESBL namely blaTEM/blaCTX-M (8.3%), blaSHV/blaCTX-M (8.3%) and blaTEM/blaSHV/blaCTX-M (8.3%). Conclusion: Many of the E. coli isolates were ESBL producers; and they harboured blaTEM genes most frequently. Further studies on molecular diversity of the ESBL producing E. coli from urine in the study location should be carried out.