title: Antibiotics in the treatment of gastroenteritis caused by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli.
abstract: The role of antibiotics in treating endemic infantile diarrhea caused by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli has not been determined. In a controlled study of 49 patients, one group received mecillinam and another group received trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. A third group served as control subjects. Serotype O111:B4 dominated. Treatment, as evaluated clinically on the third day, resulted in cure for 79% of those receiving mecillinam, 73% of those receiving trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and 7% of the control subjects. Bacteriologic cure was confirmed in 53%, 53%, and 0, respectively. The statistically significant difference between antibiotic-treated patients and control subjects (P less than 0.001) indicated that antibiotics are an important supplement in the treatment of endemic severe diarrhea caused by enteropathogenic E. coli.
mesh_terms: D000560:Amdinocillin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000145:classification; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010397:Penicillanic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012703:Serotyping; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014295:Trimethoprim / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D010397:Penicillanic Acid; D014295:Trimethoprim; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole; D000560:Amdinocillin