Molecular Epidemiology of Acute, Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections in Young Women.

Molecular biological methods, a relatively new addition to the epidemiologist's tool chest, are now applied to the study of urinary tract infection (UTI). By combining sound epidemiologic methods and the ability to genetically stratify UTI-causing Escherichia coli, recent studies have added to our understanding of UTI. These advancements include the possible identification of outbreaks of community-acquired UTI, the contribution of person-to-person transmission of E. coli to the risk for UTI in young women, and changes in the community prevalence and distribution of UTI caused by drug-resistant organisms. The application of molecular methods to future UTI research studies may yield novel approaches to UTI prevention.