Background & Objectives: Aeromons is the cause of various infections in humans and has been isolated from different food samples and even drinking water. Research studies report the prevalence of the bacteria in diarrheic patients to be equal to or higher than shigella. Regarding the contradictory reports this study was conducted to investigate the prevalence and significance of Aeromonas in children's dysentery and their sensitivity to antibiotics in Tehran in 2003-2004.
Materials & Methods: In this descrpitive study 310 stool samples of diarrheic children under 10 years of age were tested for infection to Aeromonas, plesiomonas, bacterial pathogens such as salmonella, shigella, enteropathogenic E.coli and enteric parasites and susceptibity of these agents to antibiotics was assessed through diffusion disc method on aeromonas isolates. Data were analysed using discriptive and analytical statistics (χ 2 , t-test and, Fisher exact test).
Results: The results showed that Aeromonas prevalence was 4.5% and higher than salmonella and enteropathogenic E.coli in diarrheic children and it was the second leading pathogen after shigella. All Aeromonas strains were susceptible to ceftizoxime, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin and resistant to ampicillin.
Conclusion: Aeromonas species are of etioloical significance in diarrheic children and they must be taken into account in bacteriologic survey of the stool samples. More research is recommended.