Bacteria with multiple resistance to antibiotics, until now found only in UK hospitals, may have emerged in the community.

Samples taken from 57 patients, mostly with urinary tract infections, in two parts of the United Kingdom, have shown evidence of Escherichia coli with multiple resistance to drugs.

The findings, reported by the Health Protection Agency, may indicate that resistant bacteria are emerging in the community independently of hospital settings, with significant implications for the way GPs treat urinary tract infections, one of the more common conditions they see.

The agency says that enterobacteriaceae …