title: Survey of Escherichia coli septicemia over a six-year period.
abstract: Escherichia coli was the most frequent species isolated from blood cultures in the Hospital Covadonga of Oviedo (Spain) over a six-year period (474 episodes, 15.3% of the total septicemias and 2.7 episodes per 1,000 patients). Escherichia coli strains were susceptible in greater than 95% of episodes to cefoxitin, cefotaxime, gentamicin, tobramycin and amikacin. In a series of 72 episodes, microbiological features and host factors were studied. No endemic stains were found. Type 1 fimbria was detected in 73.6% of strains and P-fimbriae in 12.5%, without correlation between P-fimbria and urinary infection; 84.7% of the strains were resistant to decomplement human serum; 61.1% produced aerobactin and 20.8% were hemolytic. Factors such as age, hospital location, metastatic focus and surgical treatment were significantly correlated with morbidity and mortality. The global mortality rate was 18%, and in 8.3% of cases was directly associated with septicemia.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología Funcional, Universidad de Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vázquez
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Mendoza
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Viejo
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Méndez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D011379:Prognosis; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents