Abstract
The general bacterial flora of 38 Tasmanian SIDS infants was examined together with faecal flora of 134 comparison infants ranging in age from birth to 6 months. The microflora of all specimens received was investigated with special emphasis on the toxigenic Escherichia coli (TEC). Samples were examined for verocytotoxigenic E. coli, free faecal verocytotoxin (FVT), heat labile toxin (LT) and heat stable toxin (ST) producers with the use of a Vero cell assay and commercial kits. The findings of this study revealed a high isolation rate (39%) of TEC from SIDS infants as compared to 1.5% from the healthy comparison infants. Atypical E. coli strains were also identified during the study, including E. coli A-D. An analysis of the same specimens for rotaviral and adenoviral antigens indicated that 30% of the SIDS cases were positive as compared to 20% in the comparison group.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adenoviridae Infections / complications
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Adenoviridae Infections / epidemiology
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Adenoviridae Infections / microbiology*
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Animals
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Case-Control Studies
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Colon / microbiology
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Escherichia coli / classification*
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Escherichia coli / isolation & purification
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Escherichia coli / pathogenicity
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Escherichia coli Infections / complications
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Escherichia coli Infections / epidemiology
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Escherichia coli Infections / microbiology*
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Feces / microbiology
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Humans
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Ileum / microbiology
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Incidence
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Infant
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Infant, Newborn
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Intestinal Diseases / complications
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Intestinal Diseases / epidemiology
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Intestinal Diseases / microbiology*
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Nasal Mucosa / microbiology
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Population Surveillance*
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Respiratory Tract Infections / complications
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Respiratory Tract Infections / epidemiology
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Respiratory Tract Infections / microbiology*
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Rotavirus Infections / complications
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Rotavirus Infections / epidemiology
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Rotavirus Infections / microbiology*
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Sudden Infant Death / epidemiology
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Sudden Infant Death / etiology*
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Tasmania / epidemiology
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Vero Cells