aetiology
Last edited 04/2018
Main causative organisims include:
- Campylobacter jejuni
- Shigella spp.
- Salmonella spp.
- E. coli
- Yersinia enterocolitica
- Clostridium difficile
- Vibrio cholera (1,2)
Types of bacteria responsible for acute gastroenteritis (AGE) vary according to the geographical area:
- in developing countries
- epidemics are caused by Vibrio cholera but the most common bacterial agent is Shigella
- in Europe
- Campylobacter, Salmonella spp., enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), andenteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) are the most common agents
- emergence of Clostridium difficile (Cd) as a cause of community-acquired diarrheal illness has been reported, but with a relatively low burden
- in Ecuador, sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia,
- Shigella is common
- in China
- Salmonella spp. (8%), diarrheagenic E. coli (5%), Campylobacter jejuni (3%), and Aeromonasspp. (2%)
- in India
- E.coli was the most common agent of AGE followed by Shigella
- in around 34% of cases, 2 or more pathogens were responsible for the condition, with a predominant incidence in children younger than 2 years old
Around 80% cases of traveller’s diarrhoea were caused by bacterial pathogens.
- Escherichia col, enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC), and EAEC are seen in majority of patients
- in addition, Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Shigella play a substantial role (1)
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