STUDY OF ENTEROPATHOGENIC Escherichia coli (EPEC) ISOLATED FROM DIARRHOEAL INFANTS IN FALLUJA HOSPITAL.

Abstract

This study determined the frequency of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli(EPEC) infections in 386 infants with acute diarrohea. The age of infants rangedfrom 1-36 months, The patients were admitted to the consultants clinics or hospitalin Falluja, during the period from May 2005 to February 2006. Rectal swabs andstool specimens were cultured. Serological investigation were done by specific kit.EPEC were found in 79 case (20.46%). The most prevalent serotypes were 0119k69(22.78%) and 0111k58 (15.18%). High incidence of infants were observed at below6 months of age (26.12%) and tended to be during the summer months (24.35%).Lower incidence were observed in breast- feeding infants (11.7%) as compare withbottel- feeding (25.62%) or mixed one(17.64%).