ROLE OF AEROMONAS ISOLATED FROM FECES OF FINNISH PATIENTS

Aeromonas species were isolated from 249/13,027 (1.9%) stool samples s ubmitted to the Dept. of Bacteriology and Immunology, University of He lsinki, during 1 year, to be cultured for bacterial enteropathogens. A eromonas was the third most common enteropathogen isolated, after camp ylobacter (3.6%) and salmonella (3.3%). Isolates and clinical informat ion from 234 Aeromonas patients were available for further study. A. c aviae (41%), A. hydrophila (27%), and A. veronii biovar sobria (22%) w ere the most frequent isolates. In 15% of the patients, other enteropa thogens were found along with aeromonas. Only 2% of all aeromonas-posi tive patients were found to be asymptomatic, whereas no aeromonas isol ates were detected in the stools of 343 asymptomatic individuals. Almo st all (96%) patients with aeromonas in their feces had gastroenteriti s. Patients infected with A. veronii biovar sobria had a shorter illne ss course and had more often travelled abroad. In conclusion, Aeromona s spp. were found to be a potential cause of diarrhea in Finnish patie nts.