CHARACTERISTICS OF DIARRHEAL DISEASE COMPLICATED WITH HEMOLYTIC UREMIC SYNDROME AMONG CHILDREN IN GEORGIA, 2009-2016.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) causes illness ranging from mild diarrhea to bloody diarrhea, to the hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which manifests with a triad of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia and acute renal failure. Surveillance of HUS and bloody diarrhea is not performed in Georgia. The primary objective of our study was to determine the annual incidence of diarrheal diseases. The secondary objective was to assess epidemiological characteristics, etiology and risk factors of diarrhea and HUS in Georgia among children under 15. We collected a retrospective data on diarrheal diseases particularly bloody diarrhea and HUS among children in Georgia in 2009-2016 years. Laboratory, clinical and epidemiological data was entered into electronic database. Descriptive statistics, proportions, incidence rates, means and medians were calculated in R statistical language using statistical package R for windows v 3.4.3. A total of 316 cases of bloody diarrhea including 64 (20.2%) cases complicated with HUS under age 15 were identified from 2009 until 2016. From 316 patients 5 (1.6%) have died, all of them with diagnosis and severe complications of HUS. Average rate of HUS per 100,000 populations during 2009-2016 was 0.3 and for bloody diarrhea 2 per 100,000. High RR for food products consumed by children with bloody diarrhea either complicated with HUS or not were various ice-creams produced locally (RR 4.23 P<0.001), dairy products (RR 2.79 P = 0.01), ground beef products (RR 4.52 P<0.001). The another highest attack ratio was identified for fruits (RR 6.19 P<0.001) and vegetables (RR 3.45 P < 0.001). Different enteric pathogens including shiga toxin producing E. coli was detected as etiology of diarrheal diseases and HUS. Epidemiological data suggests that inadequately washed fruits, vegetables and eating undercooked food and ice-cream could be a possible risk factors of exposure with enteric pathogens and developing diarrhea and HUS among children. Further investigations of food products are required to determine epidemiology and source food products of bloody diarrhea and HUS among children in Georgia.

Clinical and epidemiological peculiarities of hemorrhagic colitis complicated by hemolytic-uremic syndrome.

The aim of the research: identification of etiological structure of acute diarrheas and hemorrhagic colitis in Georgia, manifestation of clinical peculiarities and predictors of hemorrhagic colitis complicated by HUS ( Hemolytic-Uremic syndrome). In 2011-2013 we studied 274 hospitalized patients at the Center of Infectious Diseases, AIDS and Clinical Immunology (160 hemorrhagic colitis and 114 non-bloody diarrhea). Causative agents of hemorrhagic colitis (160 patients) were determined in 110 (69%) cases; etiology of the non-bloody diarrhea (114 patients) was established in 46 (40%) cases. Enteronterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) strains are major causes of hemorrhagic colitis. For the confirmation of STEC infection by the bacteriological investigation some significant additional methods were used: serologic examination of feces on shiga- toxin molecular markers by ImmunoCard STAT and PCR methods. Thus, these above mentioned investigations contribute to diagnosis STEC infection at the early stage of the disease. Based on our findings we were able to reveal predictors of complications of hemorrhagic colitis by HUS. They include: Delayed hospitalization, rural residents, premorbid background, onset of the disease with low-grade fever accompanied with abdominal cramps, manifestation of bloody diarrhea on the 2-3-rd days of the disease, frequent bowl movement (>20 times a day), development of oliguria and edema on the following days, leucocytosis in hemogram, elevation of LDH, creatinine and urea, hypoalbuminemia and development of ascites.

Enterohemorrhagic E. coli and hemolytic uremic syndrome in Georgia.

It is important to consider that between Jul-October 2009 in the pathologic center of infectious diseases (Tbilisi State Medical University Department of Infectious Diseases) among hospitalized patients with hemorrhagic colitis 25 patients developed HUS syndrome. Most of patients were rural residents 20 (80%), only 5 (20%) were urban. 11 (44%) patients were children, 14 (56%) were adults. Male and female rate was equal. All the patients related the onset of the disease with the consumption of notwashed raw fruits or vegetables, nonpasteurized dairy products, food from street vendors, soft cheeses made from raw milk and untreated water in areas lacking adequate chlorination. The onset of the disease was not acute: low grade fever (37,5-37,8(0)C), severe diffuse pain in abdomen accompanied with cramps, frequent bowel movement with loose, watery stools 5-6 times a day. On the 2-3rd days of disease condition was worsened by increased of intoxication and frequent bowel movement with bloody stools about 10-15-20 times a day. On the 3-4 rd days of the onset of the diarrhea developed oliguria, anuria, edema. Among other complications important were: polyserosit - 8 (32%), encephalopathy - 2 (8%), disseminated intravascular coagulation - 3 (14%), ileus -1 (4%,) acute reactive phsycosis - 1 (4)%. In 15 (60%) cases became necessary to carry out hemodialysis. died 5 patients, lethality is - 5 (20%). Treatment options included: pathogenetic and symptomatic. Thus, increased rate of patients in the recent years indicates to circulation of shiga-toxin producing E.Coli in Georgia.