[Hemolytic properties of Escherichia coli strains isolated from cases of urinary tract infection and enteropathy]

Abstract

Different strains of E. coli, that were isolated during years 1986-1990 from 217 urine samples in patients with asymptomatic bacteriuria, cystitis, cysto-pyelitis and pyelonephritis, appeared to be more frequently haemolytic (34.5%) than strains of E. coli isolated from faecal samples in patients with acute enteropathy. It was confirmed that the haemolysin production occurs during log -phase of bacterial growth. The degree of haemolysis can vary widely according to the strain involved. Agglutination tests, using 53 O-antiserum, showed a great variety of serogroups. Some of them (04, 018, 022) are prevalent among the haemolytic strains isolated from urine; some others (055, 0111, 075) are prevalent among the anhaemolytic strains isolated from urine and faeces.