Microbiology & Immunology Publications
Title
Preliminary study on the prevention of recurrent urinary tract infection in adult women using intravaginal Lactobacilli
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-31-1996
Journal
FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology
Volume
16
Issue
3-4
First Page
159
Last Page
162
URL with Digital Object Identifier
10.1016/S0928-8244(96)00075-2
Abstract
Five well-characterized urinary and fecal isolates of Escherichia coli were found to be hydrophilic irrespective of their serotypes and their ability to express fimbriae. All the strains were able to adhere to silicone latex urinary catheters, although strain 917, which expressed type P fimbriae as its only adhesin, adhered poorly. Although specific adhesins, particularly fimbriae, have been shown to mediate adhesion of E. coli to uroepithelial cells, they do not mediate specific adhesion onto urinary catheter material. The overall surfaces of the strains, tested using microelectrophoresis as a function of pH and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, were not significantly different, thus suggesting more non-specific adhesion mechanisms to urinary catheters.