Question

The organism commonly associated with infantile diarrhea

• A. Escherichia coli
• B. Enterobacter aerogenes
• C. Salmonella typhi
• D. Clostridium difficile

Hint:

Milkborne Pediatric Pathogens: Infantile Diarrhea $\rightarrow$ Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC). Milk formula infant meningitis/enterocolitis $\rightarrow \textit{Cronobacter sakazakii}$.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Pediatric foodborne infections: Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) and Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) are the primary bacterial etiologies of acute infantile diarrhea transmitted via contaminated milk.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
In dairy microbiology and pediatric public health:
- Enteropathogenic {Escherichia coli (EPEC, e.g., serotypes O111, O55, O26, O127) and Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) are the primary bacterial pathogens causing severe, life-threatening Infantile Diarrhea (Infantile Summer Diarrhea Weanling Diarrhea).
- Transmitted easily to infants via unpasteurized or post-pasteurization contaminated milk, infant milk formulas, and unsterilized feeding bottles, EPEC uses intimin and the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) pathogenicity island to induce attaching and effacing (A/E) lesions on intestinal microvilli, causing profuse watery diarrhea and dehydration.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Therefore, the organism commonly associated with infantile diarrhea is Escherichia coli, corresponding to option (A).