Enteric microbiology methods for laboratories in developing countries

The enteric microbiology laboratory plays a crucial role in controlling morbidity and mortality from acute enteric infections in developing countries. Based on data provided by the laboratory, physicians can select therapy for individual patients and public health planners can develop strategies for controlling diarrhoeal diseases. This paper summarizes bacteriological methods for identifying the most common enteropathogens, with emphasis on those methods most appropriate to developing country laboratories. Because of financial and logistic constraints the laboratory must have clearly defined objectives and goals in order to perform the tests, which will clearly make a difference in the treatment of patients or in public health planning. A sampling system to determine the characteristics of the enteric pathogens in a given location is suggested as one mechanism to provide such information in an efficient and cost-effective manner.