Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Infection in Cancer and Immunosuppressed Patients.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The role of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) as a cause of diarrhea in cancer and immunocompromised patients is controversial. Quantitation of fecal bacterial loads has been proposed as a method to differentiate colonized from truly infected patients.

Methods

We studied 77 adult cancer and immunosuppressed patients with diarrhea and EPEC identified in stools by FilmArray, 25 patients with pathogen-negative diarrhea, and 21 healthy adults without diarrhea. Stools were studied by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) for EPEC genes eaeA and lifA/efa-1 and strains characterized for virulence factors and adherence to human intestinal enteroids (HIEs).

Results

Patients with EPEC were more likely to have community-acquired diarrhea (odds ratio,

SUBMITTER: Olvera A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8130029 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature