Skip to main content
Log in

Characterization ofEscherichia coli serotype O12∶K1∶H7 isolates from an immunocompetent carrier with a history of spontaneous abortion and septicemia

  • Notes
  • Published:
European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Escherichia coli isolates from an immunocompetent woman with a history of repeated amnion infections and spontaneous abortion were characterized.Escherichia coli were isolated from stool, blood and cervix swab samples taken over a 21-month period after the last abortion which followed septicemia during pregnancy. All samples except the last cervix swab contained isolates of serotype O12∶K1∶H7, which produced adhesins, P fimbriae, type I fimbriae and the iron-chelator aerobactin. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis revealed identical Xbal restriction patterns of the O12∶K1∶H7 isolates, suggesting that one particularEscherichia coli strain was responsible for the severe extraintestinal infections during pregnancy. The strain was able to persist in the intestine of the woman despite antibiotic therapy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Mühldorfer I, Hacker J: Genetic aspects ofEscherichia coli virulence. Microbial Pathogenesis 1994, 16: 171–181.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Ørskov I, Ørskov F: Serotyping ofEscherichia coli. Methods in microbiology 1984, 14: 43–112.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Hacker J, Bender L, Ott M, Wingender J, Lund J, Marre R, Goebel W: Deletions of chromosomal regions coding for fimbriae and hemolysins occur in vitro and in vivo in various extraintestinalEscherichia coli isolates. Microbial Pathogenesis 1990, 8: 213–225.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Falbo V, Pace T, Pizzi L, Pizzi E, Caprioli A: Isolation and nucleotide sequence of the gene encoding cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1 ofEscherichia coli. Infection and Immunity 1993, 61: 4909–4914.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Noegel A, Rdest U, Goebel W: Determination of the functions of hemolytic plasmid pHly 152 ofEscherichia coli. Journal of Bacteriology 1981, 145: 233–247.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Braun V, Gross R, Köster W, Zimmermann L: Plasmid and chromosomal mutants in the iron(III)-aerobactin transport system ofEscherichia coli. Use of streptonigrin for selection. Molecular General Genetics 1983, 192: 131–139.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Roberts M, Roberts I, Korhonen TK, Jann K, Bitter-Suermann D, Boulnois GJ, Williams PH: DNA probes for K-antigen (capsule) typing ofEscherichia coli. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 1988: 385–387.

  8. Blum G, Ott M, Lischewski A, Ritter A, Imrich I, Tschäpe H, Hacker J: Excision of large DNA regions termed pathogenicity islands from tRNA-specific loci in the chromosome of anEscherichia coli wild-type pathogen. Infection and Immunity 1994, 62: 606–614.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Stenqvist K, Sandberg T, Lidin-Janson G, Ørskov F, Ørskov I, Svanborg-Edén C: Virulence factors ofEscherichia coli in urinary isolates from pregnant women. Journal of Infectious Diseases 1987, 156: 870–877.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Gyr TN, Malek A, Mathez-Loic F, Altermatt HJ, Bodmer T, Nicolaides K, Schneider H: Permeation of human chorioamniotic membranes byEscherichia coli in vitro. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 1994, 1: 223–227.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Blum-Oehler, G., Heesemann, J., Kranzfelder, D. et al. Characterization ofEscherichia coli serotype O12∶K1∶H7 isolates from an immunocompetent carrier with a history of spontaneous abortion and septicemia. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 16, 153–155 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01709475

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01709475

Keywords

Navigation