Activity of Aqueous Extract of Cranberry (vaccinium macrocarpon) Against E.coli O157:H7 in Experimentally Induced Urinary Tract Infection in Rat

Abstract

Infection of the urinary tract (UTI) is the second most common type of infection in the body. There are estimated 150 million urinary tract infections per year worldwide (Stamm, 2001). Urinary tract infection is a bacterial infection that affects any part of urinary tract. In most cases bacteria travel to the urethra and multiply causing kidney infection if not treated (Bethesda, 2005; David et al., 2008). Urinary tract bacterial infections are common in women because they have a shorter urethra than men (Todar, 2007). The most common cause of UTI is Gram negative bacteria that belong to the family Enterobacteriaceae. Members of this family mostly include E.coli, Klebsiella, Enterobacter and Proteus. Also Gram positive Staphylococcus spp. play a role in the infection (Kunin, 1997). A UTI is common in dogs, cats, cows and horses, especially females (Joseph, 2007). Escherichia coli is one of the most common bacteria capable of causing infection in humans and animals, particularly urinary tract infections (Iroha et al., 2009). One of the most important strains of Escherichia coli is O157:H7, it is an entero-hemorrhagic strain of the bacterium Escherichia coli and a cause of food borne illness. Infection often leads to hemorrhagic diarrhea, and occasionally to kidney failure, especially in young children and elderly.