
Uropathogenic E. coli may evade antibiotics via persistence, not just resistance
A new review in Nature Reviews Urology argues that uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) may survive antibiotic treatment for urinary tract infections (UTIs) through 'persistence' and 'tolerance,' mechanisms distinct from genetic resistance. These phenotypes allow bacteria to survive without acquiring resistance genes, potentially explaining why UTIs recur despite standard therapy. The authors highlight that these mechanisms are currently overlooked in clinical diagnostics and research, contributing to treatment failure.













