Prevalence of Escherichia coli among samples collected from the genital tract in pregnant and nonpregnant women: relationship with virulence.
Escherichia coli are enteric Gram-negative bacilli that can colonize the female genital tract and become implicated in different infections in pregnant women, including intra-amniotic infection, puerperal infections and neonatal infections. The virulence profiles of E. coli isolates from vaginal swabs from pregnant and nonpregnant women were compared. The hly-, cnf-, pap- and iroN-genes were found significantly more frequently in E. coli isolated from pregnant women in comparison with those isolated from nonpregnant women. Escherichia coli from pregnant women seem to be more virulent than from nonpregnant women developing severe infections, thereby increasing possible neonatal sepsis.
Department of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Clinic, IDIBAPS, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Elisabet
E
Guiral
Jordi
J
Bosch
Jordi
J
Vila
Sara M
SM
Soto
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D015995:Prevalence; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology*; D014774:Virulence; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors