Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in Peruvian children with bloody diarrhea.
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is not routinely sought in clinical laboratories in developing counties. Among 131 bloody diarrhea samples in Peruvian children <5 years of age, STEC was found in 9.2% and was associated with absence of fever, an observation that may increase suspicion of these pathogens. Because of the significant prevalence of STEC locally, proper diagnostics methods should be implemented in the region.
Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú.
Alejandro
A
Llanos
Jorge
J
Lee
Francisco
F
López
Carmen
C
Contreras
Francesca
F
Barletta
Elsa
E
Chea-Woo
Claudia
C
Ugarte
Thomas G
TG
Cleary
Theresa J
TJ
Ochoa
D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D054323:Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification*