Correlation between electrophoretic types B1and B2of carboxylesterase B and host-dependent factors inEscherichia colisepticaemia

Abstract

SUMMARYElectrophoretic types B1and B2of carboxylesterase B produced by strains ofEscherichia coliisolated from 100 septicaemia cases were correlated with α-haemolysin and mannose resistant haemagglutinin (MRHA) production and with clinical data including eventual underlying diseases, origin of septicaemia and evolution. Electrophoretic type B2was phenotypically linked with α-haemolysin and MRHA production. The proportion of type B2isolates varied significantly with occurrence of an underlying illness (45% for patients without an underlying disease and 22% for compromised patients) and with the site of origin of the septicaemia (40% for those of urinary origin and 18% for infection of digestive origin). In the former infections, type B2isolates were obtained in the majority from male patients while type B1isolates predominated in women. The septicaemias associated with type B1were characterized by a lower proportion of isolates producing α-haemolysin and MRHA and by a greater frequency of septic shock and death than those associated with type B2. These facts emphasize the importance of host-dependent factors inE. colisepticaemia.