Observations on the possible pathogenicity of paracolon bacilli as incitants of diarrheal diseases in infants and children

Summary

• 1. Clinical and bacteriological data are presented on 49 infants and children harboring paracolon bacilli in the intestinal tract.

• 2. All strains of paracolon bacilli isolated from these patients produced acid and gas from glucose, and the majority of them failed to form acid or acid and gas from lactose even when the incubation period was extended to 3 weeks.

• 3. Thirty-nine of the 49 patients presented evidence of diarrheal disease during hospitalization. Of these, 25 carried paracolon bacilli but no other pathogenic or potentially pathogenic enteric microorganisms. In the remaining 14 cases, in addition to paracolon bacilli, other enteric organisms were present, namely, paratyphoid or dysentery bacilli, B. proteus or B. morganii type I. Eleven of these patients were admitted to this hospital solely because of diarrheal disease, whereas in the remaining cases hospitalization was required because of other disorders such as upper respiratory infections, otitis media, etc. Three patients of this group died ; the others recovered from the diarrheal disease.

• 4. Six patients harboring paracolon bacilli in the intestinal tract were admitted without evidence, but with history of diarrheal disorder.

• 5. Paracolon bacilli were present in the intestinal tract in 4 individuals who presented neither history nor evidence of diarrhea. A report on the incidence of paracolon bacilli in the feces of healthy infants will appear in the Journal of Pediatrics.

• 6. The majority of patients harboring paracolon bacilli were infants and children under two years of age.. Of the 49 individuals, 31 were less than six months old; 35 one year or less, and only 6 were older than two years.

• 7. The significance of paracolon bacilli as saprophytes or potentially pathogenic microorganisms acting as primary or secondary incitants of diarrheal disease is discussed.