Korean Journal of Clinical Microbiology  2010;13(3):128-131

doi:10.5145/KJCM.2010.13.3.128

Aberrant Forms of Escherichia coli in Urine Culture.

Youngeun MA 1 ; Jang Ho LEE ; Seung Tae LEE ; Chang Seok KI ; Nam Yong LEE

Affiliations

+expand

Keywords

Atypical bacterial forms; Escherichia coli; Urine

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

Abstract

Bacterial morphology can be altered by various factors, including antibiotics. Unusually shaped, large, swollen organisms were observed in a urine culture obtained from a patient who had no history of antibiotic therapy. The organism was identified as Escherichia coli by the Vitek 2 system and by DNA sequencing of 16S rRNA and gyrB. The patient had no symptoms except fever, which subsided without medication. Microbiology laboratories should be aware of the potential appearance of such bacilli to avoid confusion with fungi and other naturally occurring filamentous organisms.