[A thermostable toxin-producing E. coli and infantile diarrhea].

An E. coli strain producing only a thermostable toxin (ST) and belonging to serogroup 0153 (ETEC 0153; ST) was isolated from the stools of 9 infants with diarrhea, 4 of them premature, during the last half of August, 1988. All the 4 prematures passed frequent fluid stools. In 5 of the 9 infants, other pathogens were found in addition to the ETEC strain, including rotavirus, Plesiomonas and Shigella sonnei. Until recently, ETEC strains like that described were considered rare all over the world. During the past 2 years ETEC strains belonging to that serogroup and toxin type were reported as a major cause for infantile diarrhea in Spain in 5 outbreaks. Infantile diarrhea caused by an ETEC strain in Israel is reported here for the first time.