Diarrheagenic Escherichia Coli and Acute Gastroenteritis in Children in Davidson County, Tennessee, United States: A Case-Control Study
Abstract
Background: Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) is an important cause of acute gastroenteritis in children; however, there is limited information available on the epidemiology, phylogenetics, serotyping and antibiotic susceptibility of DEC in children in the United States. The aim of this study was to determine the molecular epidemiology of DEC among children with and without acute gastroenteritis in Davidson County, Tennessee. Methods: This prospective, frequency matched, case-control study recruited subjects 15 days to 17 years of age and detected DEC with polymerase chain reaction from stool samples. Additional testing was done to define phylogenetics and antibiotics resistance. Results: Among 1267 participants, 857 cases and 410 controls, 5.5% were positive for at least one subtype of DEC. Enteroaggregative E. coli [n = 32 (45%)] was the most common subtype followed by enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) [n = 30 (43%)], Shiga toxin-producing E. coli [n = 4 (6%)] and diffusely adherent E. coli [n = 4 (6%)]. No significant difference in prevalence of DEC was found between cases (5%) and controls (7%) [odds ratio: 0.66 (95% confidence interval: 0.4–1.07)], and results were similar when data were stratified by subtypes and adjusted for age, sex, race and ethnicity. Substantial diversity was found among DEC isolates in terms of phylotypes and serotypes, and a large proportion was resistant to, at least, one antibiotic. Conclusions: Enteroaggregative E. coli and enteropathogenic…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a case-control, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause. Reported size: 1,267 participants or records.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Patient-Centered Pharmaceutical Design to Improve Acceptability of Medicines: Similarities and Differences in Paediatric and Geriatric Populations
- Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for irritable bowel syndrome 2020
- Phase 2b Study of Pimodivir (JNJ-63623872) as Monotherapy or in Combination With Oseltamivir for Treatment of Acute Uncomplicated Seasonal Influenza A: TOPAZ Trial
- Gastrointestinal manifestations in COVID-19
- COVID-19 and Gastrointestinal Disease: Implications for the Gastroenterologist
- Persistent gut barrier damage and commensal bacterial influx following eradication of Giardia infection in mice
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.