Bacterial etiology of acute diarrheal disease at a hospital for children in Cartagena, Colombia

Abstract

Acute diarrheal disease (ADD) causes a high morbidity and mortality among Colombian population. One hundred and ten stool specimens from patients with diarrhea 0-5 years old who attended the Hospital for Children in Cartagena from May through September 1991 were studied in order to detect the bacterial etiological agents. Conventional, selective and modified culture media were employed. Stereotyping with specific antisera was performed on the isolated strains. Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli represented 51 (45.9%) of the 111 strains isolated; Shigella Spp.17 (15.3%), Vibrio cholerae 17 (15.3%), Salmonella Spp.15 (13.5%) and Aeromonas hydrophlia 11 (10%). Yersinia enterocolitica and Campylobacter jejuni were not found. Routine stool culture with modern techniques should be the basis for acquiring a thorough knowledge of the etiology and epidemiology of acute diarrheal disease.