Molecular Characterization of Extended-Spectrum beta-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli and Clones Causing Extraintestinal Infections in Humans. Animals as Reservoir of High-Risk E. coli Clones Pathogenic for Humans

Abstract

Escherichia coli is the leading cause of urinary tract and bloodstream infections in humans and animals. The treatment of these infections has been seriously complicated by the appearance of multidrug-resistant isolates and especially by the rapid dissemination of extended-spectrum betalactamase- producing E. coli (ESBLEC). The present doctoral thesis includes six studies in which we evaluated the prevalence, the phenotypic and the genotypic characteristics of sequence type 131 (ST131) strains and other high-risk clones among E. coli strains isolated from patients with extraintestinal infections. We also study animals (pigs and dogs) as reservoirs for ST131 strains and other high-risk clones.