Abstract
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.