[Bacterial adherence: virulence factor in upper urinary tract infections]

The possibility that have certain strains of Escherichia coli to adhere to the urinary epithelium, constitutes a real pathogenic character. This adhesivity is specific and occurs through proteic structures (adhesins), that are present on the surface of bacteria and which recognize complementary receptors on uroepithelial cells. Studies of the frequency of these adhesins in different types of urinary tract infections, as well as experimental studies in animals all point towards an important role played by adhesins in the pathogenesis of the upper urinary tract infection.