Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common nosocomial infections, caused by Escherichia coli. UPEC differ from non-pathogenic E. coli by the production of specific virulence factors which enable the bacteria to adhere to uroepithelial cells and to establish UTI. The aim of this study is to check the virulence factors of uropathogenic E. coli. Methods: The study was conducted over a period of 1 year in microbiology department, Jagannath Gupta Institute of Medical Sciences & Hospital, Kolkata. Urine samples received were processed as per standard microbiological procedures. Virulence factors such as hemolysin, hemagglutination, serum resistance, gelatinase, biofilm production and siderophore production were studied. The antimicrobial susceptibility was done as per Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute Guidelines. Results: Out of 550 E. coli isolates 367 (66.72%) cases were from females and 183 (33.27%) were males. Thus female: male ratio was 1:3. Hemolysin production was seen in 53.63%, hemagglutination in 54.18%, serum resistance in 53.27%. Conclusions: UTI is more common in middle aged females and in community set-up. The knowledge of virulence factors of E.coli will help in better understanding of the organism pathogenicity and guided empirical therapy can result in better treatment outcome.
Priscilla et al. (Fri,) studied this question.