[P-fimbriated Escherichia coli and serum antibody responses to P-fimbriae in pregnant women with urinary tract infections and their children].

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is still a major pathogen in urinary tract infections (UTI). It was found that 15 out of 20 cases (75%) of E. coli related UTI were caused by P-fimbriated E. coli, compared to the mere 15% of E. coli isolated from urine and 22% from the stool of healthy controls that were P-fimbriated. All patients studied were pregnant women and their delivered children. Antibody responses to P-fimbriae in the sera of these patients were detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using purified P-fimbriae. Positive antibody responses were observed at titers of 800-6400 in 8 out of 9 cases of UTI of pregnant women caused by P-fimbriated E. coli. The high level of antibody titers persisted for one month on average and then decreased. These antibodies to P-fimbriae were essentially IgG and transmitted to delivered children from UTI mothers. Therefore, the protective role of these antibodies from P-fimbriated E. coli infections in new born children has been suggested.