title: P-fimbriated Escherichia coli in children with acute cystitis.
abstract: P-fimbriation of Escherichia coli is an important factor in the pathogenesis of childhood pyelonephritis. The present study investigates children with single episodes of symptomatic non-febrile urinary tract infection, i.e. cystitis, with respect to clinical appearance and bacteriology, especially the frequency of P-fimbriated E. coli. The study included 75 children, 57 of whom had their first attack of urinary tract infection. E. coli was the causative agent in 88% (66/75) of the infections, and 48% (32/66) of E. coli strains were P-fimbriated. No association was found between identification of P-fimbriated E. coli at index infection and proneness to reinfection during the following six-month period. It is suggested that P-fimbriated E. coli is a virulence factor even in lower urinary tract infections, when occurring in single, symptomatic episodes.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003556:Cystitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011704:Pyelonephritis / Q000382:microbiology*; D012008:Recurrence; D014774:Virulence