Disease due to enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in Bangladeshi adults: Clinical aspects and a controlled trial of tetracycline

M. H. Merson, R. B. Sack, S. Islam, G. Saklayen, N. Huda, I. Huq, A. W. Zulich, R. H. Yolken, A. Z. Kapikian

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The clinical characteristics of disease due to enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) were determined in 88 adult males admitted to a hospital in Dacca, Bangladesh, with moderate to severe dehydration. Persons infected with ETEC strains producing both heat-labile toxin (LT) and heat-stable (ST) toxin had more dehydration and acidosis, longer duration of illness, and greater stool volume than persons infected with strains producing only ST. Tetracycline therapy, evaluated in 63 cases, resulted in slightly earlier termination of illness in the patients with LT-ST strains but had no effect on illness in the patients with ST strains. In both groups of patients tetracycline shortened the duration of excretion of organisms. Because of its limited effectiveness and the generally excellent response of ETEC diarrhea to rehydration therapy alone, tetracycline is not warranted for use in treatment of ETEC diarrhea in adults in this population.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)702-711
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Infectious Diseases
Volume141
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1980

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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