Overview
- A Nature Communications study delivers the first basic reproduction number estimates for gut-colonising bacteria by analysing three pandemic E. coli ST131 genotypes.
- One variant, ST131-A, shows community transmission comparable to the H1N1 swine flu despite spreading via fecal–oral routes rather than airborne droplets.
- Multidrug-resistant ST131-C1 and ST131-C2 transmit slowly among healthy people but likely spread far more efficiently within hospitals and care facilities.
- The team combined UK Baby Biome colonisation data with longitudinal bloodstream infection genomics from the UK and Norway using the ELFI inference platform.
- Researchers say the results argue for expanded genomic surveillance, rapid targeted diagnostics, and reduced reliance on broad-spectrum antibiotics, noting high resistance rates in UK E. coli bloodstream infections.