Epidemiological study on Jordanian patients suffering from diarrhoea

Area of Science:

• Medical Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Diarrheal diseases pose a significant public health challenge globally, particularly in developing regions.
• Understanding the etiological agents and their antimicrobial resistance patterns is crucial for effective treatment and control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of bacterial pathogens and Rotavirus in diarrheal patients in Jordan.
• To determine the antibiotic resistance profiles of isolated bacterial pathogens.

Main Methods:

• Stool specimens from 1400 diarrheal patients were analyzed over a four-year period (1997-2000).
• Bacterial pathogens were identified using standard microbiological techniques.
• Rotavirus was detected using appropriate diagnostic methods.
• Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed on bacterial isolates.

Main Results:

• Pathogenic bacteria were identified in 24.5% of patients, with Salmonella spp. (10.7%) and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) (3.9%) being the most common.
• Rotavirus was detected in 26.6% of patients.
• High rates of resistance were observed: Salmonella (42.2% to ampicillin), Shigella (77.0% to ampicillin, 34.0% to cotrimoxazole), EPEC (31.0% to ampicillin, 13.0% to cotrimoxazole), and Campylobacter spp. (77.0% to cotrimoxazole).
• Vibrio spp. were not detected.

Conclusions:

• Salmonella spp., EPEC, and Rotavirus are significant causes of diarrhea in the Jordanian population studied.
• The high prevalence of antibiotic resistance among these pathogens necessitates careful antibiotic selection for treatment.
• Continuous surveillance of diarrheal pathogens and their resistance patterns is essential for public health interventions.