Outbreaks of cholera in Nepal.

This paper presents the study of the etiological agents of diarrhea in children below 14 years of age, this study was conducted from May 1995 to April 1996. One thousand one hundred seven (1,107) children with acute diarrhea receiving Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) at National Kanti Children's Hospital were included in this study. Stool samples of these patients were investigated at the Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Medicine. None of the stool samples showed the growth of Vibrio cholerae 0139 synonym Bengal. In Nepal, V.cholerae could be isolated from June to November. From December to May, no cases of V. cholerae were detected. Therefore, we address to this incidence as outbreaks rather than endemic. Mixed infections along with V. cholerae were also seen in 29% of cholera patients. V. cholerae 01, Hikojima types were the major isolates in our study followed by Ogawa type. V. cholerae, Hikojima and Ogawa serotypes were associated with mixed infection in 16.1% and 12.9% of patients, respectively. These isolates were associated with Shigella, Salmonella and pathogenic E. coli.

Comparative bacterial study of oral rehydration solution (ORS) prepared in plain unboiled and boiled drinking water of Kathmandu valley.

Result of bacterial study on Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) prepared in plain unboiled and boiled drinking water of Kathmandu valley is reported. Of the total 100 water samples collected from different sources and area all the samples, as a base line study, were subjected for the examination of bacterial presence. Eighty eight percent of the water samples studied were found to be unsatisfactory for drinking. Thirty five percent of the ORS prepared in unboiled water and kept for 24 hours at room temperature showed increased bacterial count whereas none of the ORS prepared in 5 minute boiled water and kept for 24 hour at room temperature showed any bacterial growth. Decreased bacterial count was not found in any of the ORS prepared in unboiled water. Typical coliform bacilli were found grown in 57.0% of the ORS prepared in unboiled water samples.