The Most Common Microbial Causes of Gastroenteritis in Patients With Clinical Manifestations

Background: Gastroenteritis is a remarkable hygiene problem worldwide. Bacteria and parasites can cause gastroenteritis-associated disorders. Objectives: The aims of study were to survey the most common cause of gastroenteritis in patients referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital of Ilam, Iran. Patients and Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed during 2012 to 2013. After collecting 2376 stool samples, standard biochemical and microbiological tests were performed. Susceptibility was tested by disc diffusion method agreeing with clinical and laboratory standards institute (CLSI) guidelines. The protozoa were detected by sediment wet-mount method. Results: Of 2376 patients, 466 (19.6%) were contaminated with pathogenic bacteria or protozoa. The frequency of microorganisms isolated from the patients were 10.3%, 2.5%, 2.5%, 2.1%, 46.4%, 30.9%, 2.5% and 2.5% for enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), Shigella dysenteriae, Klebsiella pneumonia, Yersinia enterocolitica, Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, E. coli and Candida spp., respectively. Sensitivities to ciprofloxacin in E. coli and S. dysenteriae strains were 100% and 91.66%, respectively. Conclusions: The results showed that some patients were probably contaminated with nonbacterial and nonparasitic agents. All the parasitic isolates were resistant to most antibiotics. Therefore determination of microbial isolates and antibiotic susceptibility is necessary before treatment procedures.