Distribution and expression of virulence genes (hlyA, sat) and genotyping of Escherichia coli O25b/ST131 by multi-locus variable number tandem repeat analysis in Tehran, Iran.

Escherichia coli ST131 is a pandemic clone with high antibiotic resistance, and it is a major causative agent of urinary tract infection (UTI) and bloodstream infections. This study evaluated the distribution and expression of virulence genes and genotyping of E. coli O25b/ST131 by Multi-locus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) method among UTI in patients at Tehran hospitals, Iran.