Detection of bacterial and intestinal parasitic infections among children under 5 years of age with acute gastroenteritis in a tertiary care hospital in NCR region

Introduction: Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) accounts for millions of deaths each year in children, mostly in developing countries. Wide range of pathogens including parasites, bacteria and viruses are responsible for AGE. The aim of this study was to isolate the bacterial and intestinal parasites associated with AGE in children below 5 years of age. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out in Department of Microbiology & Paediatrics Santosh Medical College and Hospital. 625 children with AGE were enrolled in the study. Stool samples were examined for the presence of parasites and cultured for microbial flora. Drug susceptibility testing for aerobic isolates was performed using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method according to CLSI guidelines. Results: Among the bacterial isolates maximum isolates were Escherichia coli 291 (46.56 %), of which 32 (5.12 %) samples were identified as Enterohaemorrhagic E.coli (EHEC), 48 (7.68 %) isolates were identified as Shigella spp. while parasites included Entamoeba histolytica 21 (3.36 %), followed by Giardia lamblia 14 (2.24 %), 81.78 E.coli isolates were sensitive to Ampicillin. All the Salmonella spp. isolates were sensitive to Co-trimoxazole. Conclusion: Most frequently bacterial and parasitic isolates were E.coli Salmonella spp. and Entamoeba histolytica. This gives pre requisite for planning and evaluating interventional programmes associated with diarrhoeal illness and their antimicrobial sensitivity pattern for effective treatment and to decrease disease burden.