Correlation between uropathogenic properties of Escherichia coli from urinary tract infections and the antibody-coated bacteria test and comparison with faecal strains.

Strains of Escherichia coli isolated from adult females with symptomatic urinary tract infection were found to possess the following properties significantly more frequently than faecal strains: (i) high K-antigen titre: (ii) haemolysin; (iii) type 1 pili; (iv) mannose-resistant haemagglutination; (v) fermentation of dulcitol and salicin; (vi) O serotype 2, 6 and 75; (vii) H serotype 1. E. coli isolated form urine specimens containing significant numbers of antibody-coated bacteria were richer in these seven properties than strains from urines without detectable antibody coated bacteria. The O and H serotypes of E. coli obtained from patients with urinary tract infection in two New Zealand cities were compared with those reported in the world literature and found to be similar.