Increased expression of type-1 fimbriae by nonpathogenic Escherichia coli 83972 results in an increased capacity for catheter adherence and bacterial interference.

Background: In vitro, urinary catheter colonization by avirulent Escherichia coli 83972 impedes subsequent catheter colonization by a variety of uropathogenic organisms. However, E. coli 83972 shows a low efficacy of adherence to silicone urinary catheter material, possibly because the fim operon encoding adhesive type 1 fimbriae is incomplete.