Molecular Characterization of High and Low Virulent Clinical Strains Isolated from Patients with Urinary Tract Infections with or without Bacteremia in Southern Taiwan.

Objective: The most common extraintestinal pathogen and infection site is uropathogenic (UPEC), which causes urinary tract infections (UTIs). UPEC is also a common pathogen in bloodstream infections; in severe cases, it can lead to death. Although host and bacterial virulence factors have been demonstrated to be associated with UTI pathogenesis, the role of the related contributing factors in UTI and urinary source bacteremia is not yet fully understood.