ENTEROTOXIGENIC AND NECROTIZING ESCHERICHIA-COLI IN HUMAN DIARRHEA IN SPAIN

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains of serotype 0153: K-:H45 CFA/I+ STa+ were associated with two outbreaks of neonatal diarrhoea that occurred in two different hospitals of Madrid, in one of which several children died. Two other outbreaks were associated with ETEC strains of serotypes 0159: K-: H21 (LT+) and 0159: K-: H4 (LT+ STa+) without CFA/I and CFA/II colonization factors. Necrotizing E. coli (NTEC) strains of serotype 06: K13, producing the cytotoxic necrotizing factor CNF1 and alpha-haemolysin, were also associated with two outbreaks of neonatal diarrhoea that occured in a hospital in Madrid and in a hospital in Talavera de la Reina. The results of the characterization of some ETEC and NTEC strains isolated from sporadic cases of diarrhoea are also discussed.