Permissions and Reprints Abstract

Objective The aim of the study was to investigate the virulence factors in Escherichia coli producing extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) derived from the perinatal fecal colonization flora of mothers and their newborns in a Chinese obstetric ward.

Study Design Rectal swabs were obtained from mothers prenatally and from their newborns postnatally, and analyzed for ESBL-producing Escherichia coli. The isolates were then whole-genome sequenced.

Results Maternal and neonatal colonization by ESBL-producing E. coli in a Chinese obstetric ward was 18% (31/177) and 5% (9/170), respectively. Fecal ESBL-producing isolates exhibited a significantly lower frequency of virulence factors compared with invasive E. coli.

Conclusion Providing balanced information on screening results is essential, along with conducting a risk assessment for antibiotic treatment strategies.

Key Points

High ESBL E. coli colonization rates in mothers and neonates perinatally

Fecal ESBL-producing E. coli showed fewer virulence traits.

ESBL-producing E. coli knowledge may prompt antibiotic overuse.

Keywords Escherichia coli - fecal carriage - virulence factors - extended-spectrum β-lactamase - ESBL Publication History

Received: 30 August 2024

Accepted: 19 September 2024

Accepted Manuscript online:
01 October 2024

Article published online:
22 October 2024

© 2024. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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