Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) strains are diarrheagenic E. coli belonging to specific serotypes, historically associated with outbreaks of infantile diarrhea, which are one of the main causes of severe diarrhea throughout the world. Several chromosomal and plasmid-borne virulence factors have been linked with the ability of certain strains to cause diarrhea. Over the last few years, numerous outbreaks of infections with strains producing extended spectrum -lactamases (ESBLs) and AmpC -lactamases, has been observed worldwide. In Iraq, few reports are available on the prevalence and molecular identification of EPEC. In addition, little attention has been paid to the molecular studies of ESBLs and AmpC -lactamases. Therefore, there is an increase demand to investigate the role of EPEC in children with diarrhea and identify the prevalence of -lactam resistance among these strains. This book provides a new data on the prevalence of EPEC in children younger than two years of age in Iraqi hospitals as well as characterizes their virulence genes and detection the genetic factors controlling production of ESBLs and AmpC -lactamases.

Enterococcus faecalis strains are becoming increasingly important agents of human disease, largely because of their resistance to antimicrobial agents. Because of their resistance to penicillins and cephalosporins of several activity ranges, the acquisition of high-level resistance to aminoglycosides, and now the emergence of vancomycin resistance, these bacteria are often involved in serious infections among patients receiving broad-spectrum antimicrobial chemotherapy.In Iraq, little information regarding vancomycin resistance and virulence factors presented in E. faecalis strains. Therefore, there is an increasing request to investigate the role of these strains in hospital infections.This bookprovides a new dataon the prevalence of E. faecalis in patients with significant bacteriuria, the antimicrobial resistance patterns and the presence of virulence genes in the isolated species.