Faecal leucocytes in patients with infectious diarrhoea

Abstract
The value of faecal leucocyte examination was assessed in 376 hospital in-patients with acute diarrhoea. Comparison was made with 50 controls. All faecal samples were examined for bacteria, viruses and parasites. 91% of diarrhoeal cases caused by Shigella had faecal leucocytes. Similar findings were obtained from cases infected by Campylobacter or Salmonella. In contrast, those diarrhoeal cases due to viruses, parasites or bacterial toxins were not associated with faecal leucocytes. The test is a practical, inexpensive and reliable screening procedure to recognize probable invasive bacterial diarrhoea and to decide in which case a stool culture could be advantageous.

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