First report of Escherichia coli O157 among Iraqi children.

We determined the prevalence of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli, especially E. coli O157, and other enteropathogens among 200 children with bloody diarrhoea and 100 age-matched controls at two Baghdad hospitals. Bacterial and parasitic agents were found in 39.5% and 28.5% of cases, respectively; no pathogen was detected in 32%. E. coli O157 was identified in 11.5% and more than one pathogen was found in 15.5% of cases. The most common pathogens were enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) (5%); E. coli other than E. coli O157 or EPEC (15%); Entamoeba histolytica (25%) and Giardia lamblia (3.5%). All isolates of E. coli O157:H7 were sensitive to cephalexin, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin and nalidixic acid and resistant to erythromycin, polymyxin B and vancomycin. Resistance to 6 or more antimicrobial agents was common (50% of isolates).