[Clinical significance of isolation of enteropathogenic "E. coli" (author's transl)].

The frequency of isolation of enteropathogenic "Escherichia coli" from the stool cultures of 100 hospatilized children with diarrhea (group I) was analyzed, having as control 200 children withou diarrhea: 100 admitted at the hospital (group II) and 100 from a nursery (group III). The isolation percentiles were 24% in group I, 12% in group II and 11% in group III. When compared with controls, there was significant difference (p < 0.05) between groups II and III and group I. However, the results of this study are not applicable for an isolated case because 11.5% of the control population were carriers of an enteropathogenic "E. coli". Serotipation therefore, must have a fundamental epidemiological value.