Abstract
ObjectivesThis longitudinal case–control study aimed to determine the frequency of polymicrobial enteric detections in Ghanaian infants with and without diarrhoea. MethodsInfants aged 1–12 months with and without diarrhoea attending the outpatient department of a peri-urban Ghanaian hospital were prospectively assessed and stool samples were collected on days 0, 6 and 28 and analysed for 18 enteric pathogens with PCR. ResultsAt least one enteric pathogen was detected in 100 of 107 cases with diarrhoea (93%) and in 82 of 97 controls (85%). The number of pathogens was higher in cases than in controls (median three versus two pathogens, p 0.001). The adjusted attributable fraction (AF) for diarrhoea was highest for enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (7.2%, 95% CI –2.0% to 16.3%), rotavirus (4.1%, 95% CI 0.6%–7.5%), Giardia lamblia (2.3%, 95% CI –0.7 to 5.3%) and astrovirus (2.3%, 95% CI –2.9 to 7.5%). In cases, a higher pathogen number was significantly associated with watery stool consistency (median 3, interquartile range (IQR) 2–5 versus median 2.5, IQR 1–4, p 0.014), stool frequency five or more per day (median 4, IQR 3–5 versus median 3, IQR 2–4, p 0.048) and vomiting (median 4, IQR 3–5 versus median 3, IQR 2–4, p 0.025). During follow-up, 94% (78/83) of cases and 85% (67/79) of controls had acquired at least one new pathogen without developing a new episode of diarrhoea. ConclusionEnteric pathogens could be identified in the stool of the vast majority of Ghanaian infants, whereby pathogens were very frequently acquired without resulting in new episodes of diarrhoea during follow-up. A higher number of co-occurring pathogens may increase the risk of diarrhoea and disease severity.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.