Bacterial gastroenteritis in Saudi children

ABSTRACT

Incidence of bacterial enteric pathogens among Saudi children below the age of 10 years. Fifty thousand and four hundred stool samples were retrospectively investigated for bacterial pathogens from January 1988 to December 1996. The infected children were divided into 3 age groups. All enteropathogens were identified by conventional methods, Api 20E and sero agglutination test. A total of 3123 [6%] positive stool specimens were identified during that period. Of these positives, 2791 [99%] were stool samples received from out-patients. Salmonella food poisoning species were dominant pathogenics organisms [56%] followed by Camplobacter species [28%] and Shigella species [15%]. Food born infection is common in Saudi children and is likely to be associated with food hygiene. Antimicrobial resistance was found to be common amongst the Salmonella and Shigella isolates. Treatment of infected patients if indicated, should be guided by the in-vitro susceptibility testing