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Spread of Escherichia coli colonizing newborn babies and their mothers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

K. A. Bettelheim
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Microbiology, St Bartholomew's Hospital, West Smithfield, London EC1A 7BE
Ching Haan Teoh-Chan
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Microbiology, St Bartholomew's Hospital, West Smithfield, London EC1A 7BE
Mary E. Chandler
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Microbiology, St Bartholomew's Hospital, West Smithfield, London EC1A 7BE
Sheila M. O'Farrell
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Microbiology, St Bartholomew's Hospital, West Smithfield, London EC1A 7BE
Layla Rahamim
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Microbiology, St Bartholomew's Hospital, West Smithfield, London EC1A 7BE
Elizabeth J. Shaw
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Microbiology, St Bartholomew's Hospital, West Smithfield, London EC1A 7BE
R. A. Shooter
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Microbiology, St Bartholomew's Hospital, West Smithfield, London EC1A 7BE
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Summary

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Most babies are colonized by the predominant strains of Escherichia coli present in their own mother's faecal flora. Those babies who did not acquire their maternal faecal flora acquired strains of E. coli belonging to a small number of the possible serotypes. Moreover, the same serotypes were found in several babies and other mothers, suggesting spread within the ward. These few strains included some of the O groups which had previously commonly been found as urinary pathogens. These strains may have increased potentialities for colonization of human bowel. Antigenic and biochemical variation was observed among the strains.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1974

References

REFERENCES

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