SUMMARYStrains of Escherichia coli isolated from adult females with symptomatic urinary tract infection were found to possess the following properties significantly more frequently than faecal strains: (i) high K-antigen titre; (ii) haemolysin; (iii) type 1 pili; (iv) mannose-resistant haemagglutination; (v) fermentation of dulcitol and salicin; (vi) 0 serotype 2, 6 and 75; (vii) H serotype 1. E. coli isolated from urine specimens containing significant numbers of antibody-coated bacteria were richer in these seven properties than strains from urines without detectable antibodycoated bacteria.The 0 and H serotypes of E. coli obtained from patients with urinary tract infection in two New Zealand cities were compared with those reported in the world literature and found to be similar.