Consumption of edible ice contaminated with Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, and Stenotrophomonas is a risk factor for fecal colonization with extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli in Vietnam

Although Vietnamese residents frequently harbor extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-E), it is unclear which foods/beverages are risk factors for acquiring these bacteria. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency with which edible ice served in restaurants is contaminated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and thereby clarify whether this product poses a risk for ESBL-E carriage in humans. Ice from restaurants in Vietnam and Japan was screened for bacteria capable of growing on agar containing cefotaxime (BG-CTX). Of the 119 BG-CTX strains isolated in Vietnam, 40%, 39%, and 12% were identified as Pseudomonas spp., Acinetobacter spp., and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, respectively. Meanwhile, of the six such strains isolated in Japan, five were identified as Acinetobacter spp. and one as Pseudomonas spp. More than 10% of the Acinetobacter isolates exhibited cefotaxime, ceftazidime, and sulfa/trimethoprim resistance, while 21% of Pseudomonas and 14% of S. maltophilia isolates exhibited meropenem and sulfa/trimethoprim resistance, respectively. Subsequent multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses detected ESBL-encoding genes in 10% of the BG-CTX. Notably, feces harvested from mice administered water contaminated with BG-CTX contained E. coli harboring the blaCTX-M-9 gene. In conclusion, our findings indicate that consumption of contaminated edible ice is a risk factor for human ESBL-E carriage.

Download Full-text

Prevalence and Characterization of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing Antibiotic-Resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in Ready-to-Eat Street Foods

Antibiotics ◽

10.3390/antibiotics10070850 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 850

Author(s):

Shobha Giri ◽

Vaishnavi Kudva ◽

Kalidas Shetty ◽

Veena Shetty

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Food Safety ◽

Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Microbiological Quality ◽

Resistant Bacteria ◽

Antibiotic Resistant ◽

E Coli ◽

Extended Spectrum

As the global urban populations increase with rapid migration from rural areas, ready-to-eat (RTE) street foods are posing food safety challenges where street foods are prepared with less structured food safety guidelines in small and roadside outlets. The increased presence of extended-spectrum-β-lactamase (ESBL) producing bacteria in street foods is a significant risk for human health because of its epidemiological significance. Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae have become important and dangerous foodborne pathogens globally for their relevance to antibiotic resistance. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the potential burden of antibiotic-resistant E. coli and K. pneumoniae contaminating RTE street foods and to assess the microbiological quality of foods in a typical emerging and growing urban suburb of India where RTE street foods are rapidly establishing with public health implications. A total of 100 RTE food samples were collected of which, 22.88% were E. coli and 27.12% K. pneumoniae. The prevalence of ESBL-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae was 25.42%, isolated mostly from chutneys, salads, paani puri, and chicken. Antimicrobial resistance was observed towards cefepime (72.9%), imipenem (55.9%), cefotaxime (52.5%), and meropenem (16.9%) with 86.44% of the isolates with MAR index above 0.22. Among β-lactamase encoding genes, blaTEM (40.68%) was the most prevalent followed by blaCTX (32.20%) and blaSHV (10.17%). blaNDM gene was detected in 20.34% of the isolates. This study indicated that contaminated RTE street foods present health risks to consumers and there is a high potential of transferring multi-drug-resistant bacteria from foods to humans and from person to person as pathogens or as commensal residents of the human gut leading to challenges for subsequent therapeutic treatments.

Download Full-text

Abundance of colistin-resistant Escherichia coli harbouring mcr-1 and extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing E. coli co-harbouring blaCTX-M-55 or -65 with blaTEM isolates from chicken meat in Vietnam

10.21203/rs.3.rs-904323/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Tatsuya Nakayama ◽

Le Thi Hien ◽

Ngo Thanh Phong ◽

Doan Nguyen Minh Tran ◽

Oanh Thi Hoang Nguyen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Food Contamination ◽

Antibiotic Resistance Genes ◽

Chicken Meat ◽

Health Concern ◽

Resistant Bacteria ◽

Antibiotic Resistant ◽

E Coli ◽

Carbapenem Resistant ◽

Extended Spectrum

Abstract Although the spread of plasmid-mediated antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a public health concern, food contamination with plasmid-mediated antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli has not been well investigated in Vietnam. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of colistin-resistant, carbapenem-resistant and endemic blaCTX−M in extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli isolates. Colistin- and carbapenem-resistant ESBL-producing E. coli were isolated from chickens in Vietnam and Japan. The results showed that 52% and 93% of Vietnamese chicken was isolated with colistin-resistant and AmpC/ESBL-producing E. coli, respectively, while 52.7% of Japanese chickens were isolated with AmpC/ESBL-producing E. coli. Carbapenem-resistant E. coli has not been isolated in Vietnam or Japan. Genotyping revealed that colistin-resistant E. coli harboured mcr-1, and most of the AmpC/ESBL-related genes were blaCTX−M−55 and blaCTX−M−65 together with blaTEM in Vietnamese chickens, and blaCMY−2 in Japanese chickens. Multidrug resistance analysis showed that ESBL-producing E. coli isolates were more resistant to quinolones, streptomycin, and chloramphenicol compared with colistin-resistant E. coli isolates from Vietnam, suggesting selection in ESBL-producing E. coli for multiple antibiotic resistance genes. In conclusion, colistin-resistant E. coli was detected in about half of the chicken meat samples, the majority of which were found to harbour mcr-1. The high prevalence of ESBL-producing E. coli has remained constant across the last five years, and the predominant blaCTX−M for ESBL-producing E. coli was found to be blaCTX−M−55 or blaCTX−M−65, with the coexistence of blaTEM in Vietnam. Our results can be implemented in monitoring systems to combat the development of antimicrobial resistance.

Download Full-text

Long-Term Persistence of blaCTX-M-15 in Soil and Lettuce after Introducing Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase (ESBL)-Producing Escherichia coli via Manure or Water

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms8111646 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (11) ◽

pp. 1646

Author(s):

Maria-Theresia Gekenidis ◽

Serena Rigotti ◽

Jörg Hummerjohann ◽

Fiona Walsh ◽

David Drissner

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Food Group ◽

Resistant Bacteria ◽

Antibiotic Resistant ◽

E Coli ◽

Extended Spectrum ◽

Infection Treatment ◽

Human Food Chain

The number of environmental antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) has increased dramatically since the start of antibiotic mass production for broad bacterial infection treatment in 1944. Nowadays, ARB and their resistance-determining genes (ARGs) are readily detected in all environments, including the human food chain. A highly relevant food group in this context is fresh produce, frequent raw consumption of which facilitates direct transfer of ARB and ARGs to the consumer. Here, we investigate the persistence of an extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) pEK499 and its clinically most important ARG (blaCTX-M-15), after introduction via irrigation water or manure into a lettuce-growing system. Culturable ESBL-producing E. coli persisted longest in soil and when introduced via manure (until 9 weeks after introduction), while being undetectable on lettuce beyond day 7. In contrast, qPCR detection of blaCTX-M-15 was much more frequent: introduction via water significantly increased blaCTX-M-15 on lettuce until week 4, as opposed to manure, which affected the soil in the long-term (9 weeks) while leading to blaCTX-M-15 detection on lettuce until day 7 only. Our findings demonstrate long-term persistence of undesired ARB and ARG after their introduction via both irrigation and amendment. Such an understanding of the persistence kinetics of an ESBL-producing E. coli and plasmid-encoded blaCTX-M-15 aids the determination of critical actions in order to mitigate their transfer to the consumer.

Download Full-text

High Prevalence of Multiple Antibiotic-Resistant, Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase (ESBL)-Producing Escherichia coli in Fresh Seafood Sold in Retail Markets of Mumbai, India

Veterinary Sciences ◽

10.3390/vetsci7020046 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 46 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Asem Sanjit Singh ◽

Binaya Bhusan Nayak ◽

Sanath H. Kumar

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Antibiotic Resistance ◽

Multidrug Resistant ◽

Antibiotic Resistant ◽

Retail Markets ◽

E Coli ◽

Extended Spectrum ◽

Mar Index ◽

Antibiotic Susceptibility Patterns ◽

Encoding Genes

In this study, fresh seafood in retail markets was investigated for the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of the faecal indicator Escherichia coli and distribution of important β-lactamase encoding genes. E. coli were isolated from 50 (37 fish and 13 shellfish) fresh seafood samples and studied with respect to the phenotypic and genotypic characters of antibiotic resistance. Of 475 E. coli isolates from fresh seafood, 71.58% exhibited extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-positive phenotypes. A high percentage of isolates were resistant to indicator cephalosporins cefotaxime (95%), cefpodoxime (90.88%) and ceftazidime (90.29%). Relatively higher susceptibilities were recorded against imipenem (74.41%), cefoxitin (66.76%) and meropenem (51.18%). The multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index of 97.35% of the isolates was above 0.18. The ESBL genes blaCTX-M, blaSHV and blaTEM were detected in 62.37%, 23.35% and 2.6% of E. coli isolates, respectively. The ESBL-producing isolates also harboured the metallo-β-lactamase-encoding genes blaOXA (7.06%), blaNDM (4.42%) and blaVIM (0.88%). This study highlights the risk of dissemination of multidrug resistant E. coli in seafood consumer communities and also the need to improve the hygiene of the coastal waters, landing centres and the retail markets.

Download Full-text

Repeated Isolation of Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamase-Positive Escherichia coli Sequence Types 648 and 131 from Community Wastewater Indicates that Sewage Systems Are Important Sources of Emerging Clones of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy ◽

10.1128/aac.00823-19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 63 (9) ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Erik Paulshus ◽

Kaisa Thorell ◽

Jessica Guzman-Otazo ◽

Enrique Joffre ◽

Patricia Colque ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Antibiotic Resistance ◽

Resistant Bacteria ◽

Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria ◽

Antibiotic Resistant ◽

Content Type ◽

E Coli ◽

Extended Spectrum ◽

Pump Station ◽

Sequence Types

ABSTRACT Antibiotic resistance in bacteria is an emerging problem globally. Resistant bacteria are found in human and animal microbiota, as well as in the environment. Wastewater receives bacteria from all these sources and thus can provide a measurement of abundance and diversity of antibiotic-resistant bacteria circulating in communities. In this study, water samples were collected from a wastewater pump station in a Norwegian suburban community over a period of 15 months. A total of 45 daily samples were cultured and analyzed for the presence of Escherichia coli. Eighty E. coli-like colonies were collected from each daily sample and then phenotyped and analyzed for antibiotic resistance using the PhenePlate-AREB system. During the sampling period, two unique E. coli phenotypes with resistance to cefotaxime and cefpodoxime indicating carriage of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) were observed repeatedly. Whole-genome sequencing of 15 representative isolates from the two phenotypes identified these as two distinct clones belonging to the two globally spread E. coli multilocus sequence types (STs) ST131 and ST648 and carrying blaCTX-M-15. The number of ESBL-positive E. coli strains in the community wastewater pump station was 314 of 3,123 (10%) analyzed E. coli strains. Of the ESBL-positive isolates, 37% belonged to ST648, and 7% belonged to ST131. Repeated findings of CTX-M-15-positive ST648 and ST131 over time indicate that these STs are resident in the analyzed wastewater systems and/or circulate abundantly in the community.

Download Full-text

FECAL CARRIAGE OF EXTENDED-SPECTRUM BETA-LACTAMASESPRODUCING ESCHERICHIA COLI IN HOSPITALS AND COMMUNITY SETTINGS: A REVIEW

Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research ◽

10.22159/ajpcr.2017.v10i9.19126 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 10

Author(s):

Neha Sharma ◽

Anania Arjuna

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Intestinal Flora ◽

Antibiotic Consumption ◽

Resistant Bacteria ◽

Beta Lactam ◽

Antibiotic Resistant ◽

E Coli ◽

Beta Lactam Antibiotics ◽

Resistant Genes ◽

Extended Spectrum

Antibiotic resistance is an emerging threat worldwide, endangering the treatment of serious diseases. Widespread resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics among Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) is a serious threat to the currently used antibacterial therapy. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) are a group of enzymes capable of hydrolyzing extended-spectrum cephalosporins and are inhibited by clavulanic acid. These enzymes are a major cause of hospital-acquired infection and community-acquired infections caused by E. coli (Escherichia coli). E. coli forms a part of normal intestinal flora and is an important reservoir of the antibiotic-resistant genes for ESBLs. These resistant antibiotic genes can be easily spread among GNB as these are carried on plasmids. Fecal carriers of ESBL producing E. coli in hospitalized patients and in community can be a reservoir for person-to-person transmission strengthening their dissemination. Over the last few decades, there had been a considerable increase in the emergence and spread of antimicrobial-resistant enzymes favoring the predominance of antibiotic-resistant bacteria which results in morbidity, mortality, and increased hospital expenditure. The gastrointestinal tract plays an important role in development of antibiotic-resistant microorganism and harboring the microorganisms as commensal. Antibiotic consumption may lead to alteration in the genome of the microorganisms leading to emergence of resistant microorganisms. The resistant microorganisms may then spread into the environment through faces aiding dissemination of the resistant genes.

Download Full-text

Antimicrobial activity of Syzygium aromaticum L. essential oil on extended-spectrum beta-lactamases-producing Escherichia coli

Bulletin of the National Research Centre ◽

10.1186/s42269-020-00458-x ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 44 (1) ◽

Author(s):

E. L. Mejía-Argueta ◽

J. G. Santillán-Benítez ◽

M. M. Canales-Martinez ◽

A. Mendoza-Medellín

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Essential Oil ◽

Genetic Material ◽

Gastrointestinal Diseases ◽

Syzygium Aromaticum ◽

Antibiotic Resistant ◽

Plant Essential Oils ◽

E Coli ◽

Extended Spectrum ◽

Tract Infections

Abstract Background To test the antimicrobial potential of clove essential oil that has been less investigated on antimicrobial-resistant organisms (extended-spectrum β-lactamase-ESBL-producing Escherichia coli), we collected 135 ESBL-producing Escherichia coli strains given that E. coli is the major organism increasingly isolated as a cause of complicated urinary and gastrointestinal tract infections, which remains an important cause of therapy failure with antibiotics for the medical sector. Then, in this study, we evaluated the relationship between the antibacterial potential activity of Syzygium aromaticum essential oil (EOSA) and the expression of antibiotic-resistant genes (SHV-2, TEM-20) in plasmidic DNA on ESBL-producing E. coli using RT-PCR technique. Results EOSA was obtained by hydrodistillation. Using Kirby-Baüer method, we found that EOSA presented a smaller media (mean = 15.59 mm) in comparison with chloramphenicol (mean = 17.73 mm). Thus, there were significant differences (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, EOSA had an antibacterial activity, particularly on ECB132 (MIC: 10.0 mg/mL and MBC: 80.0 mg/mL), and a bacteriostatic effect by bactericidal kinetic. We found that the expression of antibiotic-resistant gene blaTEM-20 was 23.52% (4/17 strains) and no expression of blaSHV-2. EOSA presented such as majority compounds (eugenol, caryophyllene) using the GC–MS technique. Conclusions Plant essential oils and their active ingredients have potentially high bioactivity against a different target (membranes, cytoplasm, genetic material). In this research, EOSA might become an important adjuvant against urinary and gastrointestinal diseases caused by ESBL-producing E. coli.

Download Full-text

Retail Chicken Carcasses as a Reservoir of Antimicrobial- Resistant Escherichia coli

University of the Future: Re-Imagining Research and Higher Education ◽

10.29117/quarfe.2020.0115 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Nahla Omer Eltai ◽

Hadi M. Yassine ◽

Sara H. Al-Hadidi ◽

Tahra ElObied ◽

Asmaa A. Al Thani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Growth Promotion ◽

Multidrug Resistant ◽

Chicken Meat ◽

Resistant Bacteria ◽

Antibiotic Resistant ◽

E Coli ◽

Inappropriate Use ◽

Esbl Producers

The dissemination of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) bacteria has been associated with the inappropriate use of antibiotics in both humans and animals and with the consumption of food contaminated with resistant bacteria. In particular, the use of antibiotics as prophylactic and growth promotion purposes in food-producing animals has rendered many of the antibiotics ineffective. The increased global prevalence of AMR poses a significant threat to the safety of the world’s food supply. Objectives: This study aims at determining the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) isolated from local and imported retail chicken meat in Qatar. Methodology: A total of 270 whole chicken carcasses were obtained from three different hypermarket stores in Qatar. A total of 216 E. coli were isolated and subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing against 18 relevant antibiotics using disc diffusion and micro- dilution methods. Furthermore, extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) production was determined via a double-disc synergetic test. Isolates harboring colistin resistance were confirmed using multiplex-PCR and DNA sequencing. Results: Nearly 89% (192/216) of the isolates were resistant to at least one antibiotics. In general, isolates showed relatively higher resistance to sulfamethoxazole (62%), tetracycline (59.7%), ampicillin and trimethoprim (52.3%), ciprofloxacin (47.7%), cephalothin, and colistin (31.9%). On the other hand, less resistance was recorded against amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (6%), ceftriaxone (5.1%), nitrofurantoin (4.2%) and piperacillin/tazobactam (4.2%), cefepime (2.3%), meropenem (1.4%), ertapenem (0.9%), and amikacin (0.9%). Nine isolates (4.2%) were ESBL producers. Furthermore, 63.4% were multidrug-resistant (MDR). The percentage of MDR, ESBL producers, and colistin-resistant isolates was significantly higher among local isolates compared to imported chicken samples. Conclusion: We reported a remarkably high percentage of the antibiotic-resistant E. coli in chicken meat sold at retail in Qatar. The high percentage of MDR and colistin isolates is troublesome to the food safety of raw chicken meat and the potential of antibiotic resistance spread to public health. Our findings support the need for the implementation of one health approach to address the spread of antimicrobial resistance and the need for a collaborative solution.

Download Full-text

Prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and residual antimicrobials in the environment in Vietnam

Animal Health Research Reviews ◽

10.1017/s1466252317000160 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 128-135 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Shinji Yamasaki ◽

Tuyen Danh Le ◽

Mai Quang Vien ◽

Chinh Van Dang ◽

Yoshimasa Yamamoto

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Critical Role ◽

Environmental Water ◽

Resistant Bacteria ◽

Human Beings ◽

E Coli ◽

Extended Spectrum ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Food Animals ◽

High Level

AbstractEmergence and spread of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, including extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli, have become serious problems worldwide. Recent studies conducted in Vietnam revealed that ESBL-producing E. coli are widely distributed in food animals and people. CTX-M-9 and CTX-M-1 are the most prevalent β-lactamases among the identified ESBLs. Furthermore, most of the ESBL-producing E. coli isolates were multi-drug resistant. Residual antimicrobials such as sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, sulfadimidine, cephalexin, and sulfadiazine were also detected at a high level in both animal meats and environmental water collected from several cities, including Ho Chi Minh city and Can Tho city. These recent studies indicated that improper use of antimicrobials in animal-originated food production might contribute to the emergence and high prevalence of ESBL-producing E. coli in Vietnam. Although clonal ESBL-producing E. coli was not identified, CTX-M-55 gene-carrying plasmids with similar sizes (105–139 kb) have been commonly detected in the ESBL-producing E. coli strains isolated from various food animals and human beings. This finding strongly suggests that horizontal transfer of the CTX-M plasmid among various E. coli strains played a critical role in the emergence and high prevalence of ESBL-producing E. coli in Vietnam.

Download Full-text

Despite Predominance of Uropathogenic/Extraintestinal Pathotypes Among Travel-acquired Extended-spectrum β-Lactamase–producing Escherichia coli, the Most Commonly Associated Clinical Manifestation Is Travelers’ Diarrhea

Clinical Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/cid/ciz182 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 70 (2) ◽

pp. 210-218 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Anu Kantele ◽

Tinja Lääveri ◽

Sointu Mero ◽

Inka M K Häkkinen ◽

Juha Kirveskari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Chain Reaction ◽

Symptomatic Infection ◽

E Coli ◽

Extended Spectrum ◽

Before And After ◽

Clinical Consequences ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Enterobacteriaceae Infections ◽

The Tropics

AbstractBackgroundOne-third of the 100 million travelers to the tropics annually acquire extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)–producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-PE), with undefined clinical consequences.MethodsSymptoms suggesting Enterobacteriaceae infections were recorded prospectively among 430 Finnish travelers, 90 (21%) of whom acquired ESBL-PE abroad. ESBL-PE isolates underwent polymerase chain reaction–based detection of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) pathotypes (enteroaggregative E. coli [EAEC], enteropathogenic E. coli [EPEC], enterotoxigenic E. coli [ETEC], enteroinvasive E. coli, and Shiga toxin–producing E. coli), and extraintestinal pathogenic/uropathogenic E. coli (ExPEC/UPEC). Laboratory-confirmed ESBL-PE infections were surveyed 5 years before and after travel.ResultsAmong the 90 ESBL-PE carriers, manifestations of Enterobacteriaceae infection included travelers’ diarrhea (TD) (75/90 subjects) and urinary tract infection (UTI) (3/90). The carriers had 96 ESBL-producing E. coli isolates, 51% exhibiting a molecular pathotype: 13 (14%) were DEC (10 EAEC, 2 EPEC, 1 ETEC) (12 associated with TD) and 39 (41%) ExPEC/UPEC (none associated with UTI). Of ESBL-PE, 3 (3%) were ExPEC/UPEC-EAEC hybrids (2 associated with diarrhea, none with UTI). Potential ESBL-PE infections were detected in 15 of 90 subjects (17%). The 10-year medical record survey identified 4 laboratory-confirmed ESBL-PE infections among the 430 travelers, all in subjects who screened ESBL-PE negative after returning home from their index journeys but had traveled abroad before their infection episodes.ConclusionsHalf of all travel-acquired ESBL-producing E. coli strains qualified molecularly as pathogens. Extraintestinal and uropathogenic pathotypes outnumbered enteric pathotypes (41% vs 14%), yet the latter correlated more closely with symptomatic infection (0% vs 92%). Despite more ESBL-PE strains qualifying as ExPEC/UPEC than DEC, travel-acquired ESBL-PE are more often associated with TD than UTI.

Download Full-text