Urinary Tract Infections Attributable to Zoonotic E coli Strains
About 18% of urinary tract infections (UTIs) are caused by zoonotic extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) strains.
According to a study, researchers from George Washington University estimated the proportion of UTIs attributable to zoonotic ExPEC across eight Southern California counties.
- Coli isolates were collected from retail meat and patients with UTI.
- A total of 5,728 isolates were sequenced to infer the host origin of each isolate.
The researchers found that overall, zoonotic ExPEC strains accounted for 18% of UTIs.
The proportion increased to 21.5% in high-poverty neighborhoods, with a higher zoonotic proportion among women than men.
Author's summary: Zoonotic E coli strains cause 18% of UTIs.