Annals of Clinical Microbiology, The official Journal of the Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology
Case report

Aberrant Forms of Escherichia coli in Urine Culture

Youngeun Ma, Jang Ho Lee, Seung-Tae Lee, Chang-Seok Ki, Nam Yong Lee

Department of Laboratory Medicine and Genetics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Koreaa

Corresponding to Nam Yong Lee, E-mail: micro.lee@samsung.com

Ann Clin Microbiol 2010;13(3):128-131. https://doi.org/10.5145/KJCM.2010.13.3.128
Copyright © Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology.

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. (Korean J Clin Microbiol 2010;13:128-131)

Keywords

Atypical bacterial forms, Escherichia coli, Urine