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 DCC to determine the association of Aeromonas species with diarrhea and to characterize the isolates. The organism was identified in two outbreaks 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 other 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 Mexico and Dallas had different chromosomal DNA patterns. Most Aeromonas infections were associated with symptoms. Chromosomal DNA patterns differentiated Aeromonas strains better than did plasmid DNA patterns. The outbreaks of diarrhea were unusual in that several different Aeromonas genospecies were involved in each outbreak.