Occurrence of FIme plasmids in multiply antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli isolated from urinary tract infection.

Plasmids belonging to the FIme incompatibility group were found in seven different serogroups of multiply antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli isolated from patients with urinary tract infection (UTI) and living in south-east London. Although widespread in Salmonella spp., FIme plasmids have only previously been described in E. coli in a strain of serogroup O15 K52 H1 responsible for an extensive and protracted outbreak of invasive community-acquired infection in south-east London in 1986. Our findings suggest either a wider background occurrence of FIme plasmids in E. coli associated with UTI than previously reported or alternatively, the dissemination and subsequent molecular diversification of the FIme plasmid associated with the epidemic strain of serogroup O15 K52 H1.