Serum response of Escherichia coli strains causing dyspepsia and urinary tract infection: Relation to alpha-hemolysin production and O type

Abstract

A total of 109 alpha-hemolytic and 104 nonhemolytic Escherichia coli isolates from children with dyspepsia and urinary tract infectious were investigated for resistance to the bactericidal activity of human serum. A significantly higher proportion of serum resistance was found in alpha- hemolytic E. coli isolates than in nonhemolytic isolates (P < 0.01). An association between the titer of alpha-hemolysin produced and serum resistance was found.