Distribution and Epidemiological Aspects Associated with Enteric Bacterial Infections in Bulgaria

Enteric bacterial infections are characterized by the location of causative agents in the intestine and their distribution in the environment with excrements. Intestinal bacterial infections in Bulgaria are caused by Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., E. coli, Campilobacter spp., Yesinia enterocolitica. For the period 2016-2018, the incidence rate of salmonellosis in Bulgaria was close to that of the European Union (EU). It was 11,21 per 100 000 population in 2017 (14,6%ooo in the EU). The incidence rate of typhoid fever in Bulgaria was lower than that in the EU for the period 2016-2018 – 0.01-0.03 per 100 000 population. Bulgaria had the highest rate of shigellosis in the EU. For the period 2016-2018 it was between 3,33%ooo and 4,07 per 100 000. The incidence of Campylobacter infection in Bulgaria during the period 2016-2018 was between 2,72%ooo and 2,88%ooo and was lower than the EU average. Data on yersiniosis in Bulgaria is incomplete. For the period 2016-2018, 36 cases were reported. E. coli enteritis had a higher average annual notification rate in the 0 to 1 age group (142,65 cases per 100 000 population). The main means of controlling intestinal infection are sanitary measures that prevent the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms with food, water, insects, contaminated hands, etc.