Nearly 1 in 5 UTIs Linked to Foodborne E. coli

New research indicates that nearly 1 in 5 urinary tract infections (UTIs) in Southern California are linked to Escherichia coli strains originating from food-producing animals, particularly chicken and turkey. Scientists from George Washington University and Kaiser Permanente Southern California analyzed over 5,700 E. coli isolates from UTI patients and retail meat, using genomic sequencing and models to trace the bacterial origin. They found that 18% of UTIs were caused by these zoonotic strains, with women and residents of high-poverty neighborhoods being disproportionately affected. Contamination rates were highest in turkey (82%) and chicken (58%), and zoonotic strains were generally less antibiotic-resistant than non-zoonotic strains, supporting the effectiveness of FDA efforts to limit antibiotics in livestock. The study highlights that extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC), which live asymptomatically in the gut but can cause serious UTIs, are an underrecognized public health threat. Researchers suggest improved meat testing, better packaging standards, and strict food-handling practices to reduce exposure, especially in vulnerable communities. The findings underscore the importance of antibiotic stewardship in both human and animal medicine and call for targeted interventions to mitigate the UTI burden from foodborne E. coli.

Dall, C. (2025, October 24). Nearly 1 in 5 urinary tract infections tied to E. coli in meat. Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/antimicrobial-stewardship/nearly-1-5-urinary-tract-infections-tied-e-coli-meat