Background/Aims
Although the diagnosis of acute infectious diarrhea can be easily suggested by clinical features, identification of the causative organism is mandatory for both accurate diagnoses and epidemiological investigations. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of culture of biopsy specimens obtained during colonoscopy with that of stool culture in acute infectious colitis. Methods: From March 1996 to July 2001, forty-five patients who were suspected of having acute infectious colitis were enrolled. In all patients, fecal specimens and colonic tissues excised during colonoscopy were both obtained and then cultured. Results: In stool examinations, WBC and occult blood were positive in 15 (33.3%) and 14 (31.1%) cases, respectively. In culture study, some causative microorganisms were identified in 18 (40%) of the 45 cases investigated. Most common pathogen was Salmonella species (12 cases). Whereas culture of the colonic tissue biopsy specimens was positive for bacteria in 10 of 45 cases (22.2%), stool culture revealed pathogen in 13 of 45 cases (28.9%). In 5 cases, both stool and colonic tissue biopsy specimens were positive for bacteria. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that both colonic tissue culture and stool culture may have a complementary role in diagnosis of acute infectious colitis. (Intestinal Research 2004;2:83-88)