Antibiotics in the Treatment of Gastroenteritis Caused by Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

Abstract

The role of antibiotics in treating endemic infantile diarrhea caused by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli has not been determined. In a controlled study of 49 patients, one group received mecillinam and another group received trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. A third group served as control subjects. Serotype O111:B4 dominated. Treatment, as evaluated clinically on the third day, resulted in cure for 79% of those receiving mecillinam, 73% of those receiving trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and 7% of the control subjects. Bacteriologic cure was confirmed in 53%, 53%, and 0, respectively. The statistically significant difference between antibiotic-treated patients and control subjects (P less than 0.001) indicated that antibiotics are an important supplement in the treatment of endemic severe diarrhea caused by enteropathogenic E. coli.