Serotypes of Escherichia coli isolated from patients with recurrent pyogenic cholangitis

Strains of Escherichia coli were isolated from laparotomy specimens from Chinese patients with recurrent pyogenic cholangitis in Hong Kong. A large variety of serotypes were found. Several sites were sampled in each patient. While only one serotype was normally isolated from one site, different sites often yielded different serotypes in the same patient. Generally the 'O' types found did not correspond to those found in the faeces of the Hong Kong Chinese population.