ABSTRACT
A potential aetiologic agent was detected in the stools of 56% of 118 children hospitalized in Naples for acute diarrhoea. Rotavirus and Salmonella were the agents most commonly associated with disease, accounting for 23 and 17 percent of cases, respectively. Campylobacter jejuni, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, Yersinia and Shigella were less frequently isolated (total, 11% of cases). These findings fit well with the epidemiological picture described for other developed countries, except for the isolation rate of Salmonella which widely exceeds that reported in other investigations. Cytotoxic strains of E. coli and other Gram-negative bacilli were identified in the stools of 18 children; the possible pathogenic role of these strains is unknown and needs further investigation.
Subject(s)
Bacterial Infections/microbiology , Diarrhea/microbiology , Acute Disease , Bacterial Toxins/analysis , Child, Preschool , Escherichia coli/isolation & purification , Escherichia coli Infections/microbiology , Feces/microbiology , Humans , Infant , Italy , Serotyping , Species SpecificityABSTRACT
One hundred and fifty five strains of Yersinia sp. isolated in Italy from 1981 through 1983 were studied for their ability to utilize esculin, D-lixose, L-fucose and D-arabitol. All the strains belonging to biotype 4 serotype 3 isolated from humans failed to ferment such carbohydrates. The strains of other bioserotypes showed different biochemical reactions.
Subject(s)
Yersinia/metabolism , Animals , Esculin/metabolism , Fermentation , Fucose/metabolism , Humans , Sugar Alcohols/metabolism , Yersinia/classificationABSTRACT
One hundred and eighteen consecutive cases of childhood acute diarrhoea (mean age: 10.5 months) were studied after admission to our Pediatric Unit in Naples over a 13-month period. A diagnosis was established in 92 patients (78%): 55% of patients were found to have an infectious enteritis (among them, 5 had ETEC infections and 1 had an ST-producing Klebsiella infection), 12% a parenteral infection, 11% cow's milk intolerance. The occurrence of gross blood (P less than 0.01), leukocytes, and reducing substances in the stools was more commonly associated with infectious enteritis than with diarrhoea due to all other causes. In 14 patients (8 of whom were malnourished), diarrhoea ran a prolonged course. In all, the eventual outcome was favourable. Our findings, while confirming that infectious enteritides account for most of acute diarrhoeas in children, stress the importance of parenteral infections and cow's milk intolerance in this condition. Also, the need for an accurate search for enterotoxigenicity of enterobacteria before ruling out their pathogenetic role is stressed.
Subject(s)
Diarrhea/etiology , Enteritis/diagnosis , Lactose Intolerance/diagnosis , Sepsis/diagnosis , Bacterial Infections/diagnosis , Child, Preschool , Diagnosis, Differential , Diarrhea, Infantile/etiology , Giardiasis/diagnosis , Humans , Infant , Rotavirus Infections/diagnosisSubject(s)
Antibodies, Bacterial/analysis , Feces/microbiology , Yersinia enterocolitica/immunology , Adolescent , Adult , Agriculture , Child , Child, Preschool , Humans , Infant , Middle AgedABSTRACT
665 samples of milk, 20 of bovine faeces, 7 of human faeces of cowherd and some water samples are examined. 44 strains of Yersinia sp. are isolated of which 16 from patients and carriers in the same area. Strains belonging to the same bioserotype have been isolated from more than one source. Possibility of reciprocal contamination is discussed.
Subject(s)
Feces/microbiology , Milk/microbiology , Yersinia/isolation & purification , Animals , Cattle , Female , Humans , Serotyping , Yersinia/classificationABSTRACT
The Authors intent was to study the convenience of exposing selective media for identification of finely atomized pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, in the proximity of oxidation basins of the mechanical surface aeration-type purification plants, and also to assess the percentage of pathogenic elements spread throughout the air. The Authors consider the use of elective or selective media for the isolation of bacteria in the air hardly important and useful. But since the dishes exposed in the vicinity of the liquid sewage oxidation basin have revealed the presence of polluting aerosols, it would seem convenient to provide for an in-depth study on the mechanism governing the spreading of aerosol particles throughout the air, in relation to the estimate of the meteorological and climatic parameters of the area and to a survey of the persons therein exposed.
