SURVEILLANCE DATA ON BACTERIAL ENTEROCOLITIS IN BULGARIA FOR 2014-2018

Abstract

Worldwide, 30% of cases of infectious diarrhoea are caused by bacterial pathogens. As in other countries of the European Union, in Bulgaria the most common etiological agents are Escherichia coli (STEC), Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Campylobacter spp. and Yersinia enterocolitica. Acute gastroenteritis and enterocolitis infections are most common in young children. According to our survey, the leading pathogens for 2014-2018 are Salmonella spp., E. coli (EPEC, ETEC) and Campylobacter spp. The rate of infections caused by Shigella spp. is relatively high compared to other European countries. The number of enterocolitis cases of undefined aetiology continues to increase because of the neglect towards diarrhoeal syndrome by patients who rarely visit a doctor or do not seek medical attention at all.