Serotypes of Escherichia coli from urinary tract infections in Hong Kong.

Strains of E. coli, mainly from Chinese patients in Hong Kong with urinary tract infections, were serotyped, biotyped, and their antibiotic resistance patterns determined. The most common O groups found were O1, O2, O4, O6, O7, O8, O21, O25 AND O82. In general, they carried flagellar antigens different from those normally associated with these O groups in Europe. A variety of biotypes was observed and many strains were resistant to a number of antimicrobial drugs.