BACTERIAL PATHOGENS ASSOCIATED WITH DIARRHEA ON THE ISLAND OF CRETE

Stool specimens from 3,600 diarrhoeal patients from the island of Cret e, Greece, were examined for bacterial pathogens; during a three-year period (1992-1993). One or more pathogens were identified in 826 patie nts (22.9%), more often from children. Salmonella spp. were the most f requently isolated organisms in 13.6% of the patients, followed by Cam pylobacter in 4.7%, and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) in 3. 9%. Yersinia enterocolitica was found in 0.7%, Shigella spp. in 0.7% a nd Aeromonas hydrophila in 0.05%. Vibrio spp. and enterohaemorragic E. coli were not identified in the stools tested. Resistance to ampicill in was observed in 36% of the Salmonella, 62% of the Shigella, and 27% of the EPEC isolates. Cotrimoxazole resistance was observed in 42% of the Shigella and 12% of the EPEC isolates, while tetracycline and the quinolones were inactive against almost half and erythromycin against 20% of the Campylobacter isolates. This is the first study investigat ing bacterial pathogens associated with diarrhoea on the island of Cre te.