In vivo transfer of an R-plasmid in a urinary tract infection model

With the increased use of antibiotics in urinary tract infections, the appearance of resistant organisms. We demonstrated transfer of an R-factor in vitro at a transfer frequency rate of 0.5 to 1.0 x 10^-7 and in vivo rate of 5 x 10^-2. When urine was used instead of nutrient broth as the medium for in vitro transfer, recombinants were not recovered. Transfer of R-plasmids between place in the intestine and possibly elsewhere, depending on a number of factors. This mechanism is thought to be responsible for hospital and community outbreaks of infections with resistant organisms. We demonstrated transfer of an R-factor in vitro at a transfer frequency rate of 0.5 to 1.0 x 10^-7 and in vivo rate of 5 x 10^-2. When urine was used instead of nutrient broth as the medium for in vitro transfer, recombinants were not recovered. Transfer of R-plasmids between bacterial strains is thought to be the primary mechanism by which antibiotic resistance has flourished in bacterial populations and the finding of transfer in an active infection shows that exogenous organisms may contribute to the development of resistance.