16. Study on the infection rate of Escherichia Coli strains and toxic genes in children with acute diarrhea in Can Tho using real-time PCR technique

Tran Quang Khai, Nguyen Hoang Tuan Hung, Tran Van Vi, Tran Thi Huynh Nhu

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Abstract

Escherichia coli is an important pathogen in children with acute diarrhea. Real-time PCR is an effective technique that can identify E. coli strains and toxin genes. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 271 children with acute diarrhea at Can Tho Children's Hospital from November 2022 to July 2023. The results recorded an E. coli infection rate of 18.5% where Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) and Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) strains were the most common. Currently, no clinical or paraclinical difference- has been recorded between acute diarrhea caused by EPEC and other E. coli strains (p > 0.05). However, children with acute diarrhea caused by E. coli were younger (p = 0.039), had a higher rate of fever (p = 0.012) and had less leukocytosis (p = 0.032) than children with diarrhea caused by other sources. Therefore, it is necessary to be attentive to the aforementioned characteristics to suggest the agent is E. coli when microbiological test is not yet performed.

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References

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