Prevalence of enteropathogenic and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in children with and without diarrhoea in Esteli, Nicaragua.

In Esteli, Las Segovias, Nicaragua, the frequency of isolations of enteropathogenic (EPEC), and enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) was investigated in 100 children with (n = 50) and without diarrhoea (n = 50). EPEC was found to be significantly (p < 0.05) more frequent in diarrhoeal (16%) than in healthy children (4%). Detailed analyses revealed that 6 serotypes of E. coli were involved. Isolation of ETEC was not statistically significantly different (p > 0.05) in diarrhoeal (28%) and healthy children (16%). Determination of the susceptibility of isolated E. coli indicated a high level of resistance to common antimicrobial drugs. These resistant strains of E. coli might become a health problem in this part of Nicaragua.