Little information is available regarding the pathogens that cause diarrhea in hospitalized patients who also have various clinical problems. The purpose of this study was to determine the presence of pathogens in fecal samples of hospitalized patients all suffering diarrhea in addition to other problems in Mexico. Diarrheic stools from 240 patients were obtained in a third-level hospital in Monterrey, Mexico. PCR was used for the detection of Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Campylobacter spp., Yersinia spp., Aeromonas spp., Clostridioides difficile, and norovirus GI and GII. The presence of trophozoites, cysts of protozoa, eggs, and/or helminth larvae was determined by microscopic observation. Of the 240 patients analyzed, 40.4% presented at least one of the pathogens analyzed. Norovirus was the pathogen most frequently found (28.6%), followed by bacteria (11.7%), and parasites (8.3%). The majority of co-infections were parasites + norovirus, and bacteria + norovirus. Norovirus was detected mainly in children aged 0 to 10 years (9/15, 60%). Patients aged 0-20 years did not present co-infections. Entamoeba coli and Entamoeba histolytica were the most common parasites, (8/240), and Salmonella was the most prevalent bacteria (10/240). This information can help design specific strategies useful for hospitalized people with a compromised status.
Keywords: Mexico; diarrhea; gastrointestinal infection; pathogens.