Intervenciones de enfermería en infecciones gastrointestinales por escherichia coli en pacientes pediátricos

Abstract

Gastrointestinal infections are mainly caused by bacteria such as Escherichia coli, which affects children under five years of age, initially causing diarrhea and dehydration. Methodology: This research is a narrative literature review using articles from various databases such as ScienceDirect, PubMed, SciELO, Redalyc, Medigraphic, BVS, Elsevier, Dialnet, ProQuest, Clinical Health Guides, and official sites, such as the World Health Organization. For the collection of informative data, the DeCS keywords "Escherichia coli," "prevalence," "triggers," "gastrointestinal diseases," "nursing care," "complications," "child," and "pharmacology" linked with the Boléan operators were considered. Some search strategies were established. Results: Gastrointestinal infections caused by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli pathotype (EPEC) was 65.5 %; related factors included consumption of unsafe water and contaminated food. The most alarming complication was Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, causing renal damage followed by acute diarrhea and dehydration; treatment is based on oral and intravenous fluid replacement and antibiotherapy. Nurses are a fundamental pillar of assistance during patient care and antibiotic administration. Conclusion: Gastrointestinal infections are more frequent in rural areas due to poor hygiene practices, an essential factor for transmitting this pathogen. For this reason, nurses should instruct the population on health promotion and prevention measures to reduce the prevalence of these infections. Keywords: Escherichia coli, gastrointestinal diseases, nursing care, pediatrics, child.