title: Virulence-associated factors in Escherichia coli strains isolated from children with urinary tract infections.
abstract: One hundred and sixty-eight strains of Escherichia coli were isolated from cases of pyelonephritis (24) and lower urinary tract infections (UTI) (144) from hospitalised and outpatient children up to 2 years old. These strains were investigated for the expression of P fimbriae (PF), mannose-resistant and mannose-sensitive haemagglutination, cell-surface hydrophobicity, serum resistance and the production of alpha-haemolysin (AH), colicins and aerobactin. PF, AH, aerobactin production and serum resistance were significantly more frequent amongst strains expressing mannose-resistant haemagglutination. PF and AH production was significantly more frequent in pyelonephritogenic strains than in lower UTI strains. Serotypes O6 and O112 were isolated most frequently and plasmids were found in the majority of strains tested.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Safárik University, Kosice, Slovakia.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Siegfried
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kmetová
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Puzová
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Molokácová
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Filka
mesh_terms: D001770:Blood Bactericidal Activity; D003087:Colicins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial; D006384:Hemagglutination / Q000187:drug effects; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D006877:Hydroxamic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D007223:Infant; D008358:Mannose / Q000494:pharmacology; D010957:Plasmids; D011704:Pyelonephritis / Q000382:microbiology*; D013499:Surface Properties; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D003087:Colicins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D006877:Hydroxamic Acids; C031819:aerobactin; D008358:Mannose