The study on urinary tract infections was based in Southern California, but researchers said the findings may apply to communities across the United States.

Nearly one in five urinary tract infections in a group of patients in Southern California were linked to E. coli from contaminated meat, a four-year study found. And researchers say the problem could be occurring across the United States.

The researchers found 18% of the more than 2,300 urinary tract infections, or UTIs, in the study — published in the mBio journal on Thursday — were linked to E. coli strains found in meat samples from grocery stores in the same area. The meats most commonly found to test positive for E. coli were turkey and chicken, followed by pork and beef, the study found.

UTIs are common infections that happen when bacteria enter the urethra and infect the urinary tract, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They disproportionately affect female and elder patients, the CDC said.