Reassuringly low carriage of enteropathogens among healthy Swedish children in day care centres

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether asymptomatic preschool children constitute a reservoir for potential enteropathogens.

The results show that 16 of the 438 samples were positive for enteropathogens. The authors assess that the study shows a notably small prevalence of enteropathogens in the intestines of healthy preschool children in the low season for disease (spring and autumn). This indicates that the children in the daycare centres studied do not constitute a significant reservoir for enteropathogens.

A total of 438 nappies were collected from 46 daycare centres in the low season for disease (spring and autumn). The researchers then used molecular techniques to estimate the prevalence of healthy children carrying enteropathogens. The nappies were collected from children aged 11-45 months.

Kaarme, J., Hickman, R.A., Nevéus, T., Blomberg, J., & Öhrmalm, C. (2016). Reassuringly low carriage of enteropathogens among healthy Swedish children in day care centres. Public Health 140, 221-227.