Data from the health information system of Brazil showed that more than 17 million cases of acute
diarrheal diseases (ADD) were notified from 2000 to 2007
(http://portal.saude.gov.br/portal/saude/profissional/area.cfm?id_area=1549). The number of hospitalizations due
to ADD is still high in children less than 5 years of age, and varies depending on the region, with several numbers
of deaths, representing a serious prejudice to the population health. Among the several bacterial agents,
responsible for gastrointestinal infections in Brazil, diarrheagenic E. coli (DEC) accounts for an expressive
number of cases. In this chapter we will present an overview on the E. coli situation in Brazil, regarding the most
significant DEC pathotypes associated with intestinal infections.
