Enterotoxigenic Aeromonas hydrophila and diarrhoea in adults.

Aeromonas hydrophila was isolated from the faeces of 32 patients during a nine month period in three hospitals in Western Australia. All 32 isolates produced enterotoxin which was detected by the suckling-mouse test, and all patients except one had diarrhoea. Treatment should be considered in patients with chronic diarrhoea and in those with malignant disease or with hepatobiliary disease who are at risk of developing aeromonas septicaemia.