Health & Medicine, Australia (Commonwealth Union) – Researchers from The University of New South Wales (UNSW) have found that Aeromonas a kind of bacteria is the 2nd most pervasive bacterial pathogen noted in patients with gastroenteritis.
Gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, primarily affecting the stomach and the small intestine. It is typically caused by viral, bacterial, or parasitic infections. Treatment for gastroenteritis primarily focuses on managing symptoms and preventing dehydration. This typically involves drinking plenty of fluids, such as water, oral rehydration solutions, and clear broths, to replace lost fluids and electrolytes. In severe cases or cases caused by bacteria, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics. It is important to practice good hygiene, such as washing hands regularly and properly preparing and storing food, to prevent the spread of gastroenteritis.
New research led by Associate Professor Li Zhang, of the School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, has seen astonishing findings giving new details on the kinds of enteric bacteria, which is a bacterium of the intestine capable of leading to the stomach bug.
Until the present, a widely held view was that after Campylobacter, the most widespread reason for bacterial gastro was Salmonella infection.
According to Associate Professor Zhang, the findings reveal that Aeromonas is the 2nd most commonly detected enteric bacterial pathogen in people of all age groups. Surprisingly, it is actually the most prevalent enteric bacterial pathogen in children under 18 months. This information, published in Microbiology Spectrum, could potentially influence the diagnosis and treatment of gastroenteritis by allowing for more specific approaches.
By delving deeper into the study, once the uncovering of the origin of Aeromonas infections is achieved, researchers indicate that this knowledge would be invaluable in developing effective preventive measures against Aeromonas infection in the future.
Associate Professor Zhang further indicated that in the past Aeromonas species have been largely unnoticed also with less focus on their research, however, there is a rise in its recognition as an emerging enteric pathogen across the world.
During the study, which involved Ph.D. student Christopher Yuwono and a team of researchers, data from 341,330 individuals diagnosed with gastroenteritis in Australia from 2015 to 2019 was analyzed. The team employed a technique called quantitative real-time PCR to examine fecal samples for the presence of bacterial pathogens.
To gain a deeper understanding of the factors affecting gastroenteritis infection, the patient samples were categorized into different age groups.
Through their analysis, the research team uncovered a distinct infection pattern characterized by three separate peaks of infection, each correlated with a specific age group.
“The occurrence of Aeromonas enteric infections was predominately observed in young children and individuals over 50 years old, suggesting a higher susceptibility to these infections during stages where the immune system tends to be weaker,” explained Associate Professor Zhang.
On top of that, there was an elevation in Aeromonas enteric infections among patients who were between 20-29 years old, where there is a possibility of it being associated with an elevation in the exposure to the pathogen for this age, according to researchers.
“These findings suggest that both human host and microbial factors contribute to the development of Aeromonas enteric infections.”
Researchers also indicated that at present, when stool samples of gastro patients are delivered to diagnostic laboratories Aeromonas enteric pathogens routine detection is not noted.
“But the high rate of Aeromonas infection discovered in our study, and significantly, how they are impacting different patient age groups, suggest that Aeromonas species should be included on the common enteric bacterial pathogen examination list,” said Associate Professor Zhang. His next move is to mark Aeromonas pathogens in greater detail, which could lead to more targeted treatments.
