ESCHERICHIA-COLI - EFFECT OF FOSFOMYCIN TROMETAMOL ON SOME UROVIRULENCE FACTORS

The aim of our study was to evaluate the interference of fosfomycin tr ometanol (F.T.), at subinhibitory concentrations (1/4 and 1/8 MICs), o n some urovirulence factors of Escherichia coli (12 strains). We teste d fimbriae production, adhesion to uroepithelial cells, hydrophobicity , motility and hemolysin production of E. coli grown in the presence o r absence of F.T. The strains tested, grown in the presence of F.T. (1 /8 MIC), were less capable of adhering to uroepithelial cells, had les s hemagglutination and reduced motility. This behavior was enhanced at 1/4 MIC of F.T. The hemolysin production and hydrophobicity propertie s present in some of our tested strains also were significantly decrea sed when the E. coli were grown in the presence of sub-MIC concentrati ons of F.T. These results suggest that F.T. may be of clinical use as treatment for acute urinary tract infection and in pyelonephritis prop hylaxis.