Understanding How Coinfections Impact Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infections are very common in dogs and frequently caused by two species of bacteria, E.coli and Enterococcus spp.  In earlier studies, researchers found that these bacteria work together to survive in harsh environments similar to the urinary system. In this study, the team will seek to further understand the genetic and clinical significance of coinfections of E. coli and Enterococcus bacteria and what this means for prognosis and treatment of sick dogs. Findings may help improve treatment of urinary tract infections and lead to new nonantimicrobial-based therapies, which would be valuable given the growing problem of drug-resistant infections in both people and dogs.