Background:Urinary tract infections occur when microorganisms invade the urinary tract. Entry of microorganisms to the urinary tract occurs via the urethra and they multiply in the bladder.Urinary tract infection often affects women and causes cystitis and urethritis. The most important agent causing UTIs is usually E. coli, isolated from urine samples; pose a major concern to society as it produces some beta–lactamase enzymes which help the organism to resist action of antibiotics. 

Aims and objectives: To detect AmpC ß–lactamase and Metallo–ß–lactamase production among uropathogenic E. coli isolates and to detect Antibiotic susceptibility patterns of uropathogenic E. coli.

Materials and methods: A total of 130E. coli urinary isolateswere collected for the study. Antibiotics susceptibility testing for the isolates was performed by Kirby bauers disc diffusion method.The isolates were further subjected for phenotypic detection of AmpC β–lactamase and MBL production by AmpC disc test and Modified Hodge test. The study of antibiogram for AmpC and MBL producers was also considered.

Results: MBL was detected in 18.46 % (24/130) and AmpC in 10.77 % (14/130). Among the MBL producers, maximum susceptibility was given by colistin, followed by amikacin, gentamycin, nitrofurantoin,cotrimoxazole. These isolates also showed highest resistance to ampicillin, amoxyclav, cefipime, then cefotaxime, ceftazidime, cefoxitin, piperacillin/tazobactum, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, ertapenem, imipenem, meropenem, and nalidixic acid. AmpC β–lactamase producers showed highest susceptibility to colistin followed by cotrimoxazole, gentamycin, amikacin, nalidixic acid and nitrofurantoin. Most of the AmpC producers were resistant to cefotaxime, ampicillin, amoxyclav, piperacillin/tazobactum, ceftazidime, cefipime, cefoxitin, ceftriaxone, imipenem, meropenem and ertapenem.

Conclusion:Early detection of AmpC and MBL lactamases in uropathogenic E. coli isolates with performance of antibiotic susceptibility testing is suggested and is considered to prevent the spread of resistance in clinical situations.