E coli is a classic marker of faecal contamination in humans and animals. It is likely that exposure to antibiotics from medical or veterinary treatment could give rise to resistance in E coli, and the potential for these organisms to cause UTIs in humans – whether they are originally from human or animal sources – is also not unexpected. As inhabitants of the intestine, this organism can potentially gain access to the urethra and may cause infection - so it is possible. The likelihood and frequency of this occurrence, though, has not been demonstrated.