
Background: E. coli accounts for up to 80% of UTI. Emergence of MDR and ESBL enzyme producing E. coli is increasing which are resistant to commonly used antibiotics. Phenotypic expression of the gene depends on gene regulation. Aim: To determine the prevalence of UPEC, rate of MDR strains, to characterize phenotypic screening and genotypic characterization of the ESBL producing genes among uropathogenic E. coli. Materials & Methods: Urine samples from suspected UTI patients were inoculated in Blood agar, MacConkey agar, Hicrome agar for identification and confirmation done by biochemical reactions. Antibiotic susceptibility done using Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method against 14 antibiotics and phenotypic ESBL screening, confirmation detected using double disc synergy test. DNA extraction was done by boiling lysis method. ESBL genes - bla TEM, bla SHV, bla CTX-M detected using PCR. Results: 423 (45.8%) were culture positive from 924 samples, with E. coli 212 (50.1%). Based on the results of antibiotic susceptibility test 65 (30.6%) were MDR E. coli. Phenotypically, 133 were non-ESBL and 79 (37%) ESBL producing isolates. Genotypically, 81 (38%) isolates had bla TEM (55.6%), bla SHV (11.1%), bla CTX-M (61.7%). Isolates possessing single type of gene and combination among three genes were also noted. Conclusion: E. coli being more prevalent and CTX-M found in many isolates. Variation in phenotypic expression and genetic detection were observed. Further studies are necessary for insight knowledge of phenotypic and genotypic importance, emergence of other uncommon ESBL genes.