Abstract

In the present study, Escherichia coli strains isolated from clinical samples including stool, sputum and urine from HIV and AIDS patients as well as the isolates from water samples were tested for the presence of putative virulence genes in association with biofilm production, antibiotic resistance and beta lactamase production. From a total of 139 E. coli isolates, Entero aggregative E. coli was the most common pathotype in stools (52%) while Entero pathogenic E. coli was the most common in urine (24%) and water (39%). Isolates that were positive for bfpA and eae had the highest rates of biofilm production with 30.4% and 28.6% strong biofilm production rates respectively. Agn43 was found in about 44% of the isolates and biofilm formation was observed among 21.4% of the isolates positive for this gene. Enteroaggregative E. coli were more associated with multi drug resistance as well as beta lactamase production. The findings of this study suggest that water might be a source of infection for pathogenic E. coli UTIs in HIV patients and that Enteroaggregative E. coli remains a health hazard to HIV and AIDS patients in the Limpopo Province.

Key words: Antibiotic resistance, diarrhea, pneumonia, Escherichia coli, HIV and AIDS, epidemiology, Venda, South Africa.