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A comparative study of bacterial and parasitic intestinal infections in India

Beena Uppal1, Naz Perween2, Prabhav Aggarwal2

  • 1Director Professor, Department of Microbiology, Maulana Azad Medical College New Delhi, India .

Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research : JCDR
|May 9, 2015
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Infectious diarrhea in India is a significant health issue. Vibrio cholerae, diarrheagenic Escherichia coli, and Giardia intestinalis are common causes, with concerning antimicrobial resistance patterns necessitating policy updates.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Infectious diarrhea presents a major health challenge in developing nations, marked by high morbidity and mortality.
  • While rehydration is crucial, antimicrobial agents are often necessary, yet decreasing susceptibility complicates treatment.
  • Understanding the etiological agents and their resistance patterns is vital for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify prevalent bacterial and parasitic causes of diarrhea in India.
  • To assess antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of identified pathogens.
  • To compare current findings with recent national studies on infectious diarrhea etiology.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving stool sample analysis from patients of all age groups.
  • Bacteriological and parasitological identification using microscopy, culture, biochemical tests, and serotyping.
  • Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and comparison with literature published after 2000.

Main Results:

  • Bacterial pathogens were found in 8.90% of 6527 samples, with diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (7.32%), Vibrio cholerae (2.44%), and Shigella spp. (1.93%) being most common.
  • Parasites were identified in 4.78% of samples, with Giardia intestinalis (2.27%), Ascaris lumbricoides (1.15%), and Entamoeba histolytica (0.64%) being prevalent.
  • High resistance to nalidixic acid, amoxicillin, and ciprofloxacin was observed; third-generation cephalosporins showed moderate activity.

Conclusions:

  • Vibrio cholerae, diarrheagenic E. coli, and Giardia intestinalis are key agents of infectious diarrhea in India.
  • Alarming antimicrobial resistance necessitates continuous laboratory monitoring of susceptibility patterns.
  • Development and implementation of effective antibiotic use policies are crucial for combating infectious diarrhea.
Keywords:
Antimicrobial resistanceBacteriaDiarrheaParasites

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