DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2019.v07i01.002

Pages: 6-12

Introduction: There are multiple etiologies responsible for infectious gastroenteritis causing acute diarrhea which are often under diagnosed. Also acute diarrhea is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality among children less than 5 years of age. Materials & Methods: The present study of bacteriology on aerobic bacteria causing diarrhea and their antibiogram from stool samples of infants and children less than 5 years of age was carried out in the Department of Microbiology, IIMSAR, and Indore from January 2018 to November 2018. Microscopic examination of stool sample was made by paring saline wet mount. Preliminary identification on culture media as required, biochemical tests and antibiotic sensitivity were done all the cases. Results: During the period of study the total numbers of 120 cases were included. In the present study the maximum number of cases of diarrhea occurred in 6-24 months of age group 83 (69.2%). Male child or boys had higher diarrhea cases 78 (65%) as compared to girls 42 (35%). Majority of the children 84 (70%) were breast fed combined with artificial feeds. Escherichia coli were found to be the predominant organism found in 42.5% of the cases. Salmonella was isolated from 7.5% of cases. Klebsiella 6.67% and Shigella 11.67% of the cases were isolated. Among Escherichia coli isolates majority of the strains were sensitive to chloramphenicol (94.12%) amikacin (92.16%) and gentamycin (84.31%). Conclusion: In the present study, E. coli was the commonest microorganism followed by Shigella. Thus, the importance of safe water and food hygiene would be most important intervention to prevent acute gastroenteritis in children.