Prevalence of Isolated Enteropathogens among Children with Acute Diarrhea in Tehran hospitals during 2003-2005

Diarrhea continues to be the second cause of morbidity and mortality among children less than 5 years. Knowing the etiology of diarrhea is an important factor for epidemiological surveillance and (in some certain cases) for being led to an appropriate treatment. Between May 2003 and September 2005, Diarrheagenic E.coli, Shigella spp., Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp. and Yersinia spp., were investigated in 1087 children less than 5 years of age with acute diarrhea isolated from 4 hospitals and 13 clinical centers in Tehran. Shigella spp. was the most prevalent one and was found in 148 (13.6%) samples. STEC was isolated in 105 feces sample. EAEC, EPEC, Campylobacter, Salmonella and ETEC were detected in 92, 70, 60, 42, and 38 cases, respectively. In this study Yersinia was not found in any of cases. The majority of children (n=464) in the present study was less than 1 year of age. Further information about the prevalence of Shigella and STEC-related diarrhea would facilitate the control and management of diarrhea diseases among infants and children in Iran. Applying certain vaccines to control diarrheagenic E.coli, especially STEC infections, is now recommended in developing countries and its usefullness in Iran merits consideration