title: Prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Children with Bloody Diarrhea Referring to Abuzar Teaching Hospital, Ahvaz, Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Escherichia coli O157: H7 are recognized as important aetiological agents of diarrhea in children, particularly in developed countries.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to determine the rates of detection of E. coli O157: H7strains among children in Ahvaz, Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  From June 2010 to December 2010, 137 diarrheal stool samples of children were collected. E.coli was identified by standard microbiological techniques. O157 or O157:H7 subtypes discerned by serological tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 137 E. coli isolates, enteropathogens were found in 53 (38.7%) of the patients as follow: Shigella spp. (75.5%), EPEC (enteropathogenic E. coli) (16.9%), Campylobacter spp. (3.8%) and Salmonella spp. (3.8%). None of the isolated E. coli was O157:H7 serotype.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This shows that non-O157:H7 E. coli are the major cause of paediatric infections in this region of Iran.
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine & Health Research Institute, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center , Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran .
authors.forename: Azar Dokht
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Khosravi
authors.affiliation: Research Assistant, Health Research Institute, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences , Ahvaz, Iran .
authors.forename: Soheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khaghani
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences , Ahvaz, Iran .
authors.forename: Ahmad Farajzadeh
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Sheikh
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Pediatric, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapour University of Medical Sciences , Ahvaz, Iran .
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmadzadeh
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Pediatric, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapour University of Medical Sciences , Ahvaz, Iran .
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shamsizadeh
keywords: Diarrheal stools; Gastroenteritis; Paediatric infections; Stool samples