[Epidemiological and bacteriological study on the outbreak of gastroenteritis due to Escherichia coli 0111:B4 which occured in hospital environment].

The Authors report the results of the bacteriological researches carried out during an outbreak of gastroenteritis from E. coli O111:B4 having concerned, in 6 months, 40 infants of the pediatric ward at Legnano's Hospital. The researches clearly demonstrate the need for a strict control, particularly in the pediatric and neonatal wards, so as to make possible a swift identification of the gastroenteric syndromes due to E. coli strains which cause enteritis. The gravity of the symptomatology, the likelihood of the infections's spreading within the hospital and the considerable resistance to antibiotics of the strains in question are all factors which make this type of infection one particularly to be feared in hospitals.