Aerobactin-mediated iron uptake by Escherichia coli isolates from human extraintestinal infections

A total of 516 strains of Escherichia coli were screened for the presence and expression of the aerobactin iron uptake system. The incidence was markedly higher among clinical isolates from patients with septicemia (68.8%), pyelonephritis (74.6%), and symptomatic (59.8%) and asymptomatic (63.2%) lower urinary tract infections than among normal human fecal isolates (34.3%).