[Enteric infections in Perugia's area: laboratory diagnosis, clinical aspects and epidemiology during 2001].

During 2001 we analyzed 523 stool specimens (330 children, 193 adults) of patients with recent diarrhoea. We processed all specimens for protozoa, rotavirus, adenovirus, toxin A of C. difficile, and usual enteropathogen bacteria. Salmonella prevailed in 12.8% of cases (16.4% among children, 6.7% among adults), Campylobacter in 9.9% (11.5% and 7.3%), C. difficile toxin A producer in 11.3% (13.7% and 8.1%); other bacteria generally prevailed in 2.4%, protozoa in 2.7%. Among children rotavirus prevailed in 41.4%, adenovirus in 3.6%. Enteritis prevailed in children between 1 and 6 years of age. All pathogens were reported during all the seasons, but salmonellosis and campylobacteriosis were more frequent during spring and summer, rotavirus infections during the winter. Non particular and/or specific correlations could be observed between clinical manifestations and pathogen agents; anyway only bacteria were identified among invasive enterites. Vomitus was more frequent in rotavirus infections. Finally the Authors suggest a rational and efficacious methodology for diagnosis of presumptive infectious diarrhoeas.