Burden of Diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli in Santa Rosa, Guatemala in active health-services surveillance during 2008-2009 and 2014-2015.

Abstract

To describe the epidemiology of laboratory-confirmed Diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) cases from active facility-based surveillance in Guatemala. We collected clinical and risk factor data on enrolled patients (aged 0-52years) with acute diarrhoea at government healthcare facilities (1hospital and 6clinics) in Santa Rosa, Guatemala, during 2008-2009 and 2014-2015. Stool samples were analysed, E. coli identified through culture and biochemical tests, PCR amplification of genes encoding pathotype-specific virulence factors identified specific DEC pathotypes. Healthcare-seeking adjusted incidence rates were calculated. A total of 3041 diarrhoea cases were captured by surveillance (647hospitalisations (H), 2394clinic visits (CV)); general E. coli prevalence was 17.9%. DEC pathotypes were identified in 19% (n=95/497) and 21% (n=450/2113) in diarrhoea H and CV, respectively. Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) was most frequently isolated (8.2% (n=41) in diarrhoea H, 12.0% (n=255) in diarrhoea CV), followed by ETEC (6.8% (n=34) in H, 6% (n=128) in CV) and STEC (0.6% (n=3) in H, 0.6% (n=13) in CV). We did not find evidence of a difference in severity between DEC and non-DEC diarrhoea. Incidence of DEC clinic visits and hospitalisations was 648.0 and 29.3, respectively, per 10,000 persons aged ≤5years and 36.8 and 0.4, respectively, per 10,000 persons aged >5years. DEC pathotypes, especially EPEC and ETEC, were detected frequently from patients presenting with diarrhoeal illness in Santa Rosa, Guatemala. Our findings suggest that preventive interventions should be prioritised for young children.