UK epidemic Escherichia coli strains A-E, with CTX-M-15 beta-lactamase, all belong to the international O25:H4-ST131 clone.

Objectives: Uropathogenic and invasive Escherichia coli O25:H4-ST131 isolates producing CTX-M-15 extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) enzymes have recently been shown to be disseminated across the globe. In the UK, many CTX-M-15 ESBL-producing E. coli strains have been previously defined as belonging to the epidemic strains A-E, as determined by PFGE. The present study was carried out to define the relationship between these two groups of pathogenic E. coli.

Methods: Multilocus sequence typing and PFGE were used for molecular characterization of a collection of 61 ESBL-producing E. coli isolates from across the UK.

Results: Strains A to E all belonged to the ST131 clone, further underscoring the epidemiological importance of this lineage.

Conclusions: The future spread of the ST131 clone, and its UK variants, should be monitored closely and the pathogenic mechanisms explaining their success should be investigated.