Ginger and Diabetic Nephropathy: A Letter to the Editor

<div><p><strong>Background:</strong><em> </em>Shigatoxigenic <em>Escherichia coli</em> (<em>E. coli</em>) strain is one of the most important causes of diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis, and haemolytic uremic syndrome. The aim of this study was to survey the prevalence of shigatoxigenic strains and virulence genes in children of the age of under 5years in Yasuj, Iran.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong><strong> </strong>This crosssectional study was performed on 300 stool samples taken from children of the age of under 5years with diarrhea in Yasuj. After initial identification of <em>E. coli</em> strains by culture and biochemical tests, shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) genes such as <em>eaeA</em>, <em>stx₁</em> and <em>stx₂</em> detected by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique and antibiotic susceptibility of isolates was evaluated using disc diffusion method under the guidelines of Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI).</p><p><strong>Findings:</strong><strong> </strong>Out of the samples, 104 (34.7%) STEC genes were separated. Out of considered virulence genes, 14 cases (13.46%) had <em>stx₁</em>, 31 cases (29.81%)<em>stx₂</em>, 9 cases (8.65%) genotype <em>stx₁stx₂</em>, 12 cases (11.54%) <em>eaeAstx₁</em>, 25 cases (24.04%) <em>eaeAstx₂</em> and 13 cases (12.5%) had third <em>eaeAstx₁stx₂</em> genes. Antibiotic susceptibility test showed that the most susceptible antibiotic was imipenem for STEC; the most resistant antibiotic was ceftizoxime.</p><p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Results showed that STEC strains have high prevalence in our study area. Therefore, hospitalwide surveillance using molecular techniques should be proposed in other regions of our country.</p></div>