Aeromonas spp. and traveler's diarrhea: clinical features and antimicrobial resistance.
Traveler's diarrhea is the most common health problem of international travelers. We determined the prevalence of Aeromonas spp. associated with traveler's diarrhea and analyzed the geographic distribution, clinical features, and antimicrobial susceptibility. Aeromonas spp. were isolated as a cause of traveler's diarrhea in 18 (2%) of 863 patients. A. veronii biotype sobria was isolated in nine patients, A. caviae in seven patients, and A. jandaei and A. hydrophila in one patient each. Aeromonas spp. were isolated with a similar prevalence in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Watery and persistent diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps were common complaints. All strains were resistant to ampicillin; showed variable resistance to chloramphenicol, tetracycline, and cotrimoxazole; and were susceptible to cefotaxime, ciprofloxacin, and nalidixic acid. The persistence of symptoms made antimicrobial treatment necessary.
Microbiology Laboratory, Institute of Infections and Immunology, Hospital Clinic, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, University of Barcelona, Villaroel 170, 08036 Barcelona, Spain. vila@medicina.ub.es
Jordi
J
Vila
Joaquin
J
Ruiz
Francisco
F
Gallardo
Martha
M
Vargas
Lara
L
Soler
Maria José
MJ
Figueras
Joaquin
J
Gascon
D000333:Aeromonas / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D000349:Africa; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001208:Asia; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America; D014195:Travel
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents