Study of virulence factors of E. coli in community and nosocomial urinary tract infection

Background: E. coli is the commonest causative agent of urinary tract infections (UTIs). E. coli possesses several virulence factors. Community-acquired (CA) strains of E. coli are considered as more virulent as compared to nosocomial strains. Objectives: To study virulence factors of E. coli in CA and nosocomial isolates of UTI. Methods: Various virulence factors, i.e. hemolysin production, hemagglutination, serum resistance, cell surface hydrophobicity, and gelatinase production, were studied in the E. coli isolates from patients with CA and nosocomial UTI. Results: In both CA and nosocomial E. coli isolates, hemagglutination was the most common virulence factor. Other virulence factors produced in E. coli isolates were hemolysin (26.3%), serum resistance (12.8%), cell surface hydrophobicity (9.1%), and gelatinase (3.3%). Conclusions: Production of virulence factors was more common in isolates of CA UTI as compared to nosocomial UTI (p < 0.05). (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Indian Journal of Medical Specialities Trust.