Abstract: Escherichia coli is important facultative anaerobe in human and homoeothermic animals intestinal.It is also pollution indicating bacteria for water, food and faeces.In this review, drug resistance characterization of veterinary and clinic used drugs for foodborne E. coli strains were revealed, the drug resistance molecular mechanism and virulence characterization of E.coli strains at home and abroad were outlined.The review could provide important information that guide antibiotic be applied in clinical human and breeding animal reasonably, control spread of resistant E.coli strains and virulent strains in nature.