Trends in Acute Gastroenteritis through the Pathogen Surveillance System in Incheon Metropolitan City, 2018-2021

This study analyzed the epidemiological characterization of pathogens in acute diarrheal diseases in Incheon Metropolitan City from 2018 to 2021. The causative pathogens were detected in feces of patients (3,550 cases) who visited or were hospitalized for diarrhea at hospitals in Incheon. The highest bacterial detection rate was 28.2% at 6-9 years of age, followed by 24.1% at 10-19 years of age and 17.2% at 1-5 years of age. And the highest virus detection rate was 39.3% at 1-5 years of age, followed by 18.1% at under 1 year of age and 16.7% at 6-9 years of age. The detection rate of enteric pathogen exhibited typical seasonality; that of bacteria was high from July to August (summer), whereas that of viruses was high from November to April (early winter-spring). The most prevalent bacteria were Escherichia coli (205 cases), followed by Salmonella spp. (127 cases), Staphylococcus aureus (42 cases), Campylobacter jejuni (32 cases) and Bacillus cereus (27 cases). And the most prevalent viruses were Norovirus (313 cases), followed by Rotavirus (141 cases), Adenovirus (71 cases), Astrovirus (47 cases), Sapovirus (25 cases). Among the total of 3,550 cases, co-infection were observed in 114 cases. One hundred five cases had two pathogens, 8 cases had three pathogens and 1 cases had four pathogens. The most common types of co-infection were Escherichia coli - Norovirus and Norovirus - Rotavirus (13 cases respectively). Through this study, we confirmed the characteristics of acute diarrhea pathogens in Incheon Metropolitan City by age and season.