Study of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli(EPEC) diarrhoea in children

Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) are one of the predominant aetiological agents of diarrhoea in children. A study was undertaken to determine the incidence of EPEC diarrhoea in children and to assess the clinical spectrum. Faecal samples from 300 children below 12 years of age, hospitalised with acute diarrhoea were processed for isolation of bacterial pathogens. EPEC were isolated from 36(12%) of the diarrhoeal cases. O86 was the predominant serogroup isolated. EPEC diarrhoea was common in children below two years of age (86.1%). Vomiting, fever and dehydration were the common presenting features. Faecalleucocytes were observed in 17(47.2%)stool samples. EPEC were found to be resistant to several antibiotics. Since EPEC are known to belong to restricted number of 'O' sergroups, serogrouping with 'O' antisera to predominant EPEC serogroups in a particular area remains the most convenient method for early detection of EPEC diarrhoea in children.