Abstract: Objective To compare the differences in the virulence genes, antibiotic resistance and molecular characteristics of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) strains from acute diarrhea patients and persons receiving health examination. Methods The 7 virulence genes were detected by using polymerase chain reaction(PCR), the resistances to 13 antibiotics were tested with micro broth dilution method and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis(PFGE)was conducted for molecular analysis.Results Among the EAEC strains isolated from the diarrhea patients, the detection rate of virulence gene air was highest, and the virulence gene sat was mainly detected in healthy persons. Forty eight EAEC strains were resistant to 12 kinds of antibiotics, but sensitive to imipenem. The drug resistant rate was higher in the strains from diarrhea patients than in the strains from healthy persons. Forty three PFGE patterns were found in EAEC strains with highly polymorphism.Conclusion There was no significant difference in virulence genes between EAEC strains from different sources, and PFGE band was highly polymorphic. The drug resistant rate of EAEC from patients with diarrhea was higher than that from healthy persons.