European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine (EJMCM) ISSN: 2515-8260 Volume 07, Issue 10, 2020 3108 Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases in Escherichia coli Isolates from Urine Samples of Patients in Al-Bashir Hospital Nawal Salem FARIS, Mohammad Majid HADIEH, Omar Majid HADIEH Al-Balqa Applied University, Jordan Corresponding author: Nawal Salem FARIS Abstract Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are serious health affecting problems worldwide. UTIs cause more than 8.1 million visits to health care providers each year. About 60% of women and 12% of men will have at least one UTI during their lifetime. The extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESPL) has limited the use of multiple types of Antibiotics. This research will be carried out in Al-Bashir Hospital. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of ESBL in Escherichia coli isolates in the hospital by VITEK. 319 isolate were positive from EBSL from a total of 564. This suggest that a 56% of the patients who has been hospitalized in the time of the study may develop severe urinary tract infections caused by strains of Escherichia coli who have developed resistance to multiple types of antibiotics. Keywords: urinary tract infections; prevalence; E. coli; antibiotic resistance; ESBL. Introduction Infection rates vary from nation to nation; Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are serious health affecting problems worldwide. E. coli, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, S. saprophyticus, S. aureus and Proteus mirabilis are most common bacteria causing UTIs in human beings. The E. coli accounts for approximately 85% of community acquired UTIs and 50% of hospital acquired UTIs. 5 Different factors like age, gender, immunosuppression and urological instruments may affect prevalence of UTIs. 6 Catheter-associated UTIs are one of the most dangerous health risks contributing 34% of all health care associated infections. The emergence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESPL) has threatened the empirical use of cephalosporins and ciprofloxacin. Microorganisms use various mechanisms to develop drug resistance such as recombination of foreign DNA in bacterial chromosome, horizontal gene transfer and alteration in genetic material. β-lactamases are hydrolytic enzymes which cleave the β-lactam ring and are the primary mechanism of conferring bacterial resistance to β-lactam antibiotics, such as penicillins and cephalosporins. Resistance pattern of microorganisms vary from country to country, state to state, large hospital to small hospital and hospital to community. Currently, over 150 ESBLs have been described in a worldwide distribution In Jordan, the problem of antibiotic resistance is compounding because of overuse and misuse of antibiotics. There is no systematic national surveillance of antibiotic resistance and insufficient data is available to quantify the problem. ESBLs are associated with increased morbidity and mortality rates, prolonged hospital stays, and increased costs. Methods The study was conducted over a period of 6 months (October 2018 to March 2019) in the Department of Microbiology, Al-Bashir hospital. Urine sample: were collected according to standard procedures and transported without delay.