Colicins ofEscherichia coli strains causing urinary tract infections,sensitivity of these strains towards colicins,and their O-serotypes

Out of 175Escherichia coli strains isolated from the urinary tract 45% were colicinogenic. Out of these 175 strains 19% produced colicin V, colicin G was produced by 6% of the strains, colicin I by 9%, colicin A by 4%, colicin B by 4.5%, colicins E by 7.4%, and 1% yielded colicin K. The number of transmissible col factors was 10%. The majority of strains produced colicin V but the sensitivity towards it was also among the highest. The relationship between the type of colicin and the O-serotype, found in some case, may have been caused by strain selection which apparently takes place in hospitalized patients. Serologic typing supplemented by typing of colicins helps in elucidating the epidemiological relationships.