Potential sources of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in homes of children with diarrhoea in Thailand.

A year-long study was performed to identify potential sources of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) within the homes of children with diarrhea in Bangkok. ETEC was identified in 8% (10 of 130) of the inhabitants of 42 homes with children with ETEC diarrhea and 6% (8 of 137) of their neighbors, but in only 2% (49 of 3077) of those individuals living in 866 homes not associated with children with ETEC diarrhea. While 46% (13 of 28) of the children under age 2 infected with ETEC were identified on home visits as having had a recent history of diarrhea, only 13% (5 of 39) of those over age 2 presented such a history. ETEC was isolated from 14% of the mothers' hands, 13% of the children's hands, and 7% of jars containing bath water that was used for washing the children after defecation. Drinking water was identified as a probable source of infection in 1 of 42 cases. Further studies are needed to determine whether ETEC from water stored in the home can spread and cause secondary infections.