Yersinia Enterocolitica Treatment & Management

  • Author: Zartash Zafar Khan, MD; Chief Editor: Burke A Cunha, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jan 12, 2012
 

Medical Care

  • The value of antibiotic therapy in uncomplicated acute diarrhea has not been established. Diarrhea should be managed with fluid and electrolyte replacement.
  • In cases of severe enterocolitis, antibiotics have shown some benefit in terms of shortening the duration of illness. Patient populations who should be considered for empiric antibiotic therapy include elderly patients, patients with diabetes, patients with cirrhosis, immunocompromised patients, patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy, and health care workers and child care workers who are at an increased risk of person-to-person spread.
  • The treatment of mesenteric adenitis is symptomatic.
  • Antibiotic treatment should be used in patients with bacteremia with extraintestinal manifestations.
  • Antibiotics should be used in cases of primary extraintestinal syndromes, such as cellulitis, ophthalmitis, endocarditis, meningitis, osteomyelitis, pneumonia, and focal abscesses, among others.
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Surgical Care

  • Abscesses may require surgical drainage.
  • Surgical exploration may be warranted if appendicitis cannot be safely ruled out.
  • Laparotomy findings usually include mesenteric lymphadenitis and terminal ileitis, with a healthy appendix.
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Consultations

The diagnosis and management of yersiniosis does not require specific consultations.

  • Consultation with an infectious disease specialist or gastroenterologist may be useful.
  • Consultation with a rheumatologist may be helpful in cases of erythema nodosum or reactive arthritis.
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Diet

No special diet is required in patients with Y enterocolitica infection.

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Activity

  • No activity restrictions are indicated.
  • Stool samples from infected patients should be handled carefully to avoid infecting others, and strict hygiene practices should be maintained.
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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Zartash Zafar Khan, MD  Infectious Disease Consultant

Zartash Zafar Khan, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and International Society for Infectious Diseases

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Michelle R Salvaggio, MD, FACP  Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine; Medical Director of Infectious Diseases Institute, Director, Clinical Trials Unit, Director, Ryan White Programs, Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center; Attending Physician, Infectious Diseases Consultation Service, Infectious Diseases Institute, OU Medical Center

Michelle R Salvaggio, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Merck Honoraria Speaking and teaching

Mark H Johnston, MD  Associate Professor of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences; Consulting Staff, Lancaster Gastroenterology Inc

Mark H Johnston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Physicians, American Gastroenterological Association, and Christian Medical & Dental Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Gregory J Martin, MD  Director, Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Program (IDCRP) Associate Professor of Medicine, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD

Gregory J Martin, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Thomas E Herchline, MD  Professor of Medicine, Wright State University, Boonshoft School of Medicine; Medical Director, Public Health, Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio

Thomas E Herchline, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and Infectious Diseases Society of Ohio

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Richard B Brown, MD, FACP  Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases, Baystate Medical Center; Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine

Richard B Brown, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, American Society for Microbiology, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and Massachusetts Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD  Clinical and Research Fellow, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital

Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Physicians, American Society for Microbiology, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Burke A Cunha, MD  Professor of Medicine, State University of New York School of Medicine at Stony Brook; Chief, Infectious Disease Division, Winthrop-University Hospital

Burke A Cunha, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

This article was reviewed by Michelle R. Salvaggio, MD, FACP, Assistant Professor, Associate Fellowship Director of Infectious Diseases, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center.

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous coauthor Brooks D Cash, MD, FACP, to the development and writing of this article.

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