Epidemiology of the enteroinvasive Escherichia coli. Observations in Hungary

The Hungarian experiences on the epidemiology of enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC) concerning the dominant serogroup 0124 are summarized. One of the basic differences between Shigella and EIEC infections may be attributed to the higher environmental resistance of EIEC, therefore first of all water-borne outbreaks may be frequent. The other essential difference is in te age incidence: the infection rate of infants is low, the rise of incidence rate begins at the 3rd year and its peak is in the school-children age. EIEC, like to other nosological units of E. coli is not a zoonosis. Symptomless carriership is frequent and may be long lasting with the excretion of the virulent agent for over 1 year.