Bacterial etiology of acute diarrheal disease during and epidemiological surveillance for cholera in Antioquia, Colombia

Abstract

During the epidemiological surveillance for the first cholera cases In the Department of Antioquia (Colombia), 50 patients with acute diarrheal disease (ADD) were studied between June 12 and August 12, 1991. Stool cultures and a complete clinical survey were performed in all patients, most of whom were adults. Aeromonas hydrophila was identified In 11 patients (22%), Vibrio cholerae in 9 (18%), Shigella spp In 3 (6%) and enteropathogenic E. coliand Salmonella spp in 1 patient each (2%). No bacterial agent could be identified in 25 patients (50%). The most frequent clinical features were vomit in 62%, fever In 26%, cramps In 22% and grade III dehydration in 48% of the cases. One patient died. ADD can be severe, even lethal; its clinical features can be very similar regardless of the etiology. The search for other bacterial and viral agents should be Included in future studies. Aeromonas hydrophila is reported here for the first time as a frequent cause of ADD in adults in our area.