title: Enteropathogens associated with acute diarrhea in children from households with high socioeconomic level in uruguay.
abstract: Infectious diarrhea, a common disease of children, deserves permanent monitoring in all social groups. To know the etiology and clinical manifestations of acute diarrhea in children up to 5 years of age from high socioeconomic level households, we conducted a descriptive, microbiological, and clinical study. Stools from 59 children with acute community-acquired diarrhea were examined, and their parents were interviewed concerning symptoms and signs. Rotavirus, adenovirus, and norovirus were detected by commercially available qualitative immunochromatographic lateral flow rapid tests. Salmonella, Campylobacter, Yersinia, and Shigella were investigated by standard bacteriological methods and diarrheagenic E. coli by PCR assays. We identified a potential enteric pathogen in 30 children. The most frequent causes of diarrhea were enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), viruses, Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Shiga-toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). Only 2 patients showed mixed infections. Our data suggest that children with viral or Campylobacter diarrhea were taken to the hospital earlier than those infected with EPEC. One child infected with STEC O26 developed "complete" HUS. The microbiological results highlight the importance of zoonotic bacteria such as atypical EPEC, Campylobacter, STEC, and Salmonella as pathogens associated with acute diarrhea in these children. The findings also reinforce our previous communications about the regional importance of non-O157 STEC strains in severe infant food-borne diseases.
authors: Departamento de Bacteriología y Virología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Alfredo Navarro 3051, 11600 Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors: Gustavo
authors: 0000-0003-4354-0608
authors: G
authors: Varela
authors: Departamento de Pediatría, British Hospital, Avenida Italia 2420, 11600 Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors: Lara
authors: L
authors: Batthyány
authors: Departamento de Bacteriología y Virología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Alfredo Navarro 3051, 11600 Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors: María Noel
authors: MN
authors: Bianco
authors: Departamento de Pediatría, British Hospital, Avenida Italia 2420, 11600 Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors: Walter
authors: W
authors: Pérez
authors: Departamento de Bacteriología y Virología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Alfredo Navarro 3051, 11600 Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors: Lorena
authors: L
authors: Pardo
authors: Departamento de Bacteriología y Virología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Alfredo Navarro 3051, 11600 Montevideo, Uruguay ; Departamento de Laboratorio Clínico, British Hospital, Avenida Italia 2420, 11600 Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors: Gabriela
authors: G
authors: Algorta
authors: Departamento de Bacteriología y Virología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Alfredo Navarro 3051, 11600 Montevideo, Uruguay ; Departamento de Pediatría, British Hospital, Avenida Italia 2420, 11600 Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors: Luciana
authors: L
authors: Robino
authors: Departamento de Laboratorio Clínico, British Hospital, Avenida Italia 2420, 11600 Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors: Ramón
authors: R
authors: Suárez
authors: Departamento de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Avenida Universidad 3000, 04510 Ciudad de México, DF, Mexico.
authors: Armando
authors: A
authors: Navarro
authors: Departamento de Pediatría, British Hospital, Avenida Italia 2420, 11600 Montevideo, Uruguay ; Departamento de Pediatría, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Centro Hospitalario "Pereira Rossell", Boulevard Artigas 1550, 11600 Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors: María Catalina
authors: MC
authors: Pírez
authors: Departamento de Bacteriología y Virología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Alfredo Navarro 3051, 11600 Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors: Felipe
authors: F
authors: Schelotto