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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania » Eastern Regional Research Center » Characterization and Interventions for Foodborne Pathogens » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #206227
Title: EXTRAINTESTINAL PATHOGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI (EXPEC)

Author
item Smith, James
item Fratamico, Pina
item Gunther, Nereus - Jack

Submitted to: Foodborne Pathogens and Disease
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/19/2007
Publication Date: 5/31/2007
Citation: Smith, J.L., Fratamico, P.M., Gunther, N.W. 2007. Extraintestinal pathogenic escherichia coli (expec). Foodborne Pathogens and Disease. Vol.4(2):134-163

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) possess virulence traits that allow them to invade, colonize, and induce disease in bodily sites outside of the gastrointestinal tract. Human diseases caused by ExPEC include urinary tract infections, neonatal meningitis, sepsis, pneumonia, surgical site infections, as well as infections in other extraintestinal locations. ExPEC-induced diseases represent a large burden in terms of medical costs and productivity losses. In addition to human illnesses, ExPEC strains also cause extraintestinal infections in domestic animals and pets. A commonality of virulence factors has been demonstrated between human and animal ExPEC suggesting that the organisms are zoonotic pathogens. ExPEC strains have been isolated from food products, in particular from raw meats and poultry, indicating that these organisms potentially represent a new class of foodborne pathogens.