DIARRHEA ASSOCIATED WITH AEROMONAS SPECIES IN CHILDREN IN DAY-CARE-CENTERS

Outbreaks of diarrhea caused by enteropathogens have been reported in day care centers (DCC), but Aeromonas species have not been implicated . This study evaluated 381 children involved in 51 outbreaks in four D CC to determine the association of Aeromonas species with diarrhea and to characterize the isolates. The organism was identified in two outb reaks of diarrhea. In one, Aeromonas species were isolated from 6 (24% ) of 25 children and in the other from 5 (21%) of 24 children. Seven o ther Aeromonas strains from children in DCC were studied. Fourteen (78 %) of 18 were Aeromonas caviae and 15 were from children with diarrhea . Of the isolates, 75% did not have plasmids detected; all others had unique plasmid patterns. All strains had different DNA content. Twenty -two control isolates of Aeromonas from children with diarrhea in Mexi co and Dallas had different chromosomal DNA patterns. Most Aeromonas i nfections were associated with symptoms. Chromosomal DNA patterns diff erentiated Aeromonas strains better than did plasmid DNA patterns. The outbreaks of diarrhea were unusual in that several different Aeromona s genospecies were involved in each outbreak.