Emerging trends in the etiology of enteric pathogens as evidenced from an active surveillance of hospitalized diarrhoeal patients in Kolkata, India

Background: This study was conducted to determine the etiology of diarrhoea in a hospital setting in Kolkata. Active surveillance was conducted for 2 years on two random days per week by enrolling every fifth diarrhoeal patient admitted to the Infectious Diseases and Beliaghata General Hospital in Kolkata. Results: Most of the patients (76.1%) had acute watery diarrhoea in association with vomiting (77.7%) and some dehydration (92%). Vibrio cholerae O1, Rotavirus and Giardia lamblia were the important causes of diarrhoea. Among Shigella spp, S. flexneri 2a and 3a serotypes were most predominantly isolated. Enteric viruses, EPEC and EAEC were common in children <5 year age group. Atypical EPEC was comparatively higher than the typical EPEC. Multidrug resistance was common among V. cholerae O1 and Shigella spp including tetracycline and ciprofloxacin. Polymicrobial infections were common in all age groups and 27.9% of the diarrhoea patients had no potential pathogen. Conclusions: Increase in V. cholerae O1 infection among <2 years age group, resistance of V. cholerae O1 to tetracycline, rise of untypable S. flexnerii, higher proportion of atypical EPEC and G. lamblia and polymicrobial etiology are some of the emerging trends observed in this diarrhoeal disease surveillance

Direct costs of hospitalization for rotavirus gastroenteritis in different health facilities in India

Background &#38; objectives: Diarrhoeal disease is the fifth leading cause of all mortality globally. To this burden, rotavirus contributes over half a million deaths annually. This pilot study was conducted to determine the economic burden of diarrhoeal episodes on families from different geographical regions accessing medical facilities in India. Methods: Participants were enrolled from four study sites with eight reporting hospitals, categorized as non-profit and low cost, private and government facilities between November 2008 and February 2009. Questionnaires detailing healthcare utilization, medical and non-medical expenditure and lost income were completed by families of children &#60; 5 yr of age hospitalized for gastroenteritis. All available faecal samples were tested for rotavirus. Results: A total of 211 patients were enrolled. The mean total cost of a hospitalized diarrhoeal episode was ` 3633 (US$66.05) for all facilities, with a marked difference in direct costs between governmental and non-governmental facilities. Costs for rotavirus positive hospitalizations were slightly lower, at ` 2956 (US$ 53.75). The median cost of a diarrhoeal episode based on annual household expenditure was 6.4 per cent for all-cause diarrhoea and 7.6 per cent for rotavirus diarrhoea. Of the 124 samples collected, 66 (53%) were positive for rotavirus. Interpretation &#38; conclusions: Data on direct costs alone from multiple facilities show that diarrhoeal disease constitutes a large economic burden on Indian families. Affordable, effective vaccines would greatly reduce the economic burden of severe gastroenteritis on patients, families and the government

Diversity of circulating rotavirus strains in children hospitalized with diarrhea in India, 2005–2009

Background: India accounts for 22% of the 453,000 global rotavirus deaths among children &#60;5 years annually. The Indian Rotavirus Strain Surveillance Network provides clinicians and public health partners with valuable rotavirus disease surveillance data. Our analysis offers policy-makers an update on rotavirus disease burden with emphasis on regional shifts in rotavirus strain epidemiology in India. Methods: Children &#60;5 years requiring hospitalization for acute gastroenteritis were selected from 10 representative hospitals in 7 cities throughout India between November 2005 through June 2009. We used a modified World Health Organization protocol for rotavirus surveillance; stool specimens were collected and tested for rotavirus using enzyme immunoassay and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results: A total of 7285 stool specimens collected were tested for rotavirus, among which 2899 (40%) were positive for rotavirus. Among the 2899 rotavirus detections, a G-type could not be determined for 662 (23%) and more than one G type was detected in 240 (8%). Of 1997 (69%) patients with only one G-type, the common types were G1 (25%), G2 (21%), G9 (13%), and G12 (10%). The proportion of rotavirus infections attributed to G12 infections rose from 8% to 39% in the Northern region and from 8% to 24% in the Western region. Conclusions: This study highlights the large, ongoing burden of rotavirus disease in India, as well as interesting regional shifts in rotavirus strain epidemiology, including an increasing detection of G12 rotavirus strains in some regions. While broad heterotypic protection from rotavirus vaccination is expected based on pre- and post-licensure data from other settings, effectiveness assessments and rotavirus strain monitoring after vaccine introduction will be important