Pathogenesis of urinary tract infections--amoxicillin induces genital Escherichia coli colonization

The aim of this study was to examine whether a vaginal Escherichia coli colonization, mimicking the one seen in UTI-prone females, could be induced by amoxicillin administration. In adult cynomolgus monkeys, who carry the alpha-Gal-1-4-beta-Gal receptor for P-fimbriae, we have investigated the ability of a clinical isolate of P-fimbriated E. coli to colonize the mucous membranes of the genital tract. When the vagina was washed with a suspension of the P-fimbriated strain, a persistent colonization was obtained in only 17% (4/24) of the experiments. When such colonization attempts were performed during vaginal amoxicillin administration, a persistent and heavy colonization of the vagina occurred in 5/5 attempts. The findings do not contradict our hypothesis that antibiotics given to UTI-prone females may facilitate the establishment of the abnormal colonization of the genital tract.