[Acute bacterial gastroenteritis: 729 cases recruited by a Primary Care national network].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the main clinical and epidemiological features of bacterial gastroenteritis in our environment.


METHODS
An observational study of a Spanish population in 17 Autonomous Communities. Questionnaires of children with a stool positive culture to bacteria were collected over a one year period. A bivariate analysis was performed on the variables involved, as well as two multivariate models (for antibiotic treatment variables, and comparison Campylobacter/Salmonella).


RESULTS
A total of 729 bacterial gastroenteritis episodes were recorded in the 17 Spanish autonomous regions, of which 41.2% were girls and 58.8% boys. The median age was 3.41 years old (interquartile range 1.55 to 6.72). The bacteria isolated were 59.9% Campylobacter, 31.8% non-Typhi Salmonella, 2.7% Aeromonas, 2.4% Yersinia, and 1.5% had more than one strain. Most infections (70%) were direct contacts, and food poisoning was less probable (25.9%). Salmonella is significantly less frequent than Campylobacter in children under the age of 3 years (adjusted OR 0.61; 95%CI: 0.43 to 0.86; P=.005), and Campylobacter is more frequent in rural areas (adjusted OR 1.48; 95%CI: 1.07 to 2.07; P=.012). Antibiotic was prescribed in 33.2% of cases. There was a greater significant difference if stools contained blood or mucus (adjusted OR 1.53; 95%CI: 1.04 to 2.27; P=.031), if the symptoms lasted more than 7days (adjusted OR 2.81; 95%CI: 2.01 to 3.93; P<.000), or if the child was admitted to hospital (adjusted OR 1.95; 95%CI: 1.08 to 3.52; P=.027).


CONCLUSIONS
The aetiology of bacterial diarrhoea in paediatrics is typical of that of a developed country. The transmission mechanism is mainly direct, and more cases than appropriate are treated with antibiotics.
Centro de Salud José Ramón Muñoz Fernández, Servicio Aragonés de Salud, Zaragoza, España. Electronic address: cgarciavera@gmail.com.
César
C
García Vera
Hospital Universitario Infantil Miguel Servet, Servicio Aragonés de Salud, Zaragoza, España.
María
M
García Ventura
Centro de Salud Carihuela, Servicio Andaluz de Salud, Torremolinos, Málaga, España.
Guadalupe
G
Del Castillo Aguas
Centro de Salud Otero, Servicio de Salud del Principado de Asturias, Oviedo, España.
Begoña
B
Domínguez Aurrecoechea
Centro de Salud Barcelona, Servicio Madrileño de Salud, Móstoles, Madrid, España.
María Jesús
MJ
Esparza Olcina
Centro de Salud de Camas, Servicio Andaluz de Salud, Camas, Sevilla, España.
Ana
A
Martínez Rubio
Centro de Salud Delicias Sur, Servicio Aragonés de Salud, Zaragoza, España.
José María
JM
Mengual Gil
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011320:Primary Health Care; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
Atención primaria; Bacteria; Children; Diarrea; Diarrhoea; Gastroenteritis; Niños; Primary care