Bacterial Gastroenteritis Clinical Presentation

Updated: Jul 17, 2018
  • Author: Jennifer Lynn Bonheur, MD; Chief Editor: BS Anand, MD  more...
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Presentation

History

Stool characteristics

Diarrhea is defined as daily stools with a mass greater than 15g/kg for children younger than 2 years and greater than 200 g for children 2 years or older. Adult stool patterns vary from 1 stool every 3 days to 3 stools per day; therefore, consider individual stool patterns.

Consistency, color, volume, and frequency are very important in determining whether the stool source is from the small or large bowel. Table 1, below, outlines these characteristics and demonstrates that an index of suspicion can be generated easily for a specific set of organisms.

Table 1. Stool Characteristics and Sources (Open Table in a new window)

Stool Characteristics

Small Bowel

Large Bowel

Appearance

Watery

Mucus and/or blood

Volume

Large

Small

Frequency

Increased

Increased

Blood

Possibly heme-positive but never gross blood

Possibly grossly bloody

pH

Possibly < 5.5

>5.5

Reducing substances

Possibly positive

Negative

White blood cell (WBC) count

< 5/high-power field (HPF)

Possibly >10/HPF

Serum WBC count

Normal

Possible leukocytosis, bandemia

Organisms

Preformed toxins:

Bacillus species, Staphylococcus aureus

Invasive bacteria:

E coli and Shigella, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Yersinia, Aeromonas, and Plesiomonas species

Toxic bacteria:

E coli, cholera, C perfringens, Vibrio species, Listeria monocytogenes

Toxic bacteria:

C difficile

Other causes:

rotavirus, adenovirus, calicivirus, astrovirus, Norwalk virus, and Giardia and Cryptosporidium species

Other causes:

Entamoeba species

Systemic symptoms

Associated systemic symptoms can guide empiric therapy. Some enteric infections have characteristic systemic symptoms, whereas the associated systemic features of others do not occur reliably. Table 2, below, outlines the frequency of these symptoms with various organisms.

The characteristics of symptom onset and symptom duration can narrow the differential diagnosis of the organism. The onset of symptoms within 6 hours of exposure to the bacterial source indicates a preformed toxin, probably produced by a species of Staphylococcus or Bacillus. Table 2 outlines the incubation periods and duration of common bacteria.

Table 2. Symptoms and Their Characteristics (Open Table in a new window)

Organism

Incubation

Duration

Vomiting

Fever

Abdominal Pain

Aeromonas species

None

0-2 weeks

+/-

+/-

No

Bacillus species

1-16 hours

1-2 days

Yes

No

Yes

Campylobacter species

2-4 days

5-7 days

No

Yes

Yes

C difficile

Variable

Variable

No

Few

Few

C perfringens

0-1

1 day

Mild

No

Yes

Enterohemorrhagic E coli

1-8 days

3-6 days

No

+/-

Yes

Enterotoxigenic E coli

1-3 days

3-5 days

Yes

Low

Yes

Listeria species

20 hours

2 days

Few

Yes

+/-

Plesiomonas species

None

0-2 weeks

+/-

+/-

+/-

Salmonella species

0-3 days

2-7 days

Yes

Yes

Yes

Shigella species

0-2 days

2-7 days

No

High

Yes

S aureus

2-6 hours

1 day

Yes

No

Yes

Vibrio species

0-1 days

5-7 days

Yes

No

Yes

Y enterocolitica

0-6

1-46 days

Yes

Yes

Yes

Food-borne bacteria

Particular foods are associated with certain bacterial infections. Ingestion of raw or contaminated food, particularly raw milk and meat, is a common cause of bacterial gastroenteritis. The following list outlines organisms that cause food poisoning:

  • Dairy - Campylobacter, Salmonella, Listeria, and Staphylococcus species

  • Eggs - Salmonella species

  • Meats - C perfringens and Salmonella, Aeromonas, Campylobacter, and Staphylococcus species

  • Ground beef - Enterohemorrhagic E coli

  • Poultry - Campylobacter species

  • Pork - C perfringens and Y enterocolitica

  • Seafood - Aeromonas, Plesiomonas, Vibrio species, and astrovirus

  • Oysters - Plesiomonas and Vibrio species and calicivirus

  • Vegetables - Aeromonas species and C perfringens

  • Alfalfa sprouts - Enterohemorrhagic E coli and Salmonella species

  • Fried rice - Bacillus species

  • Custards, mayonnaise - Staphylococcus species

A study by Calbo et al reported a foodborne nosocomial outbreak due to extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)–producing Klebsiella pneumoniae. [20] This may be the first reported hospital outbreak that provides evidence that food can be a transmission vector for ESBL K pneumoniae.

Water-borne bacteria

Water is a major reservoir for many organisms that cause diarrhea. Swimming pools have been associated with outbreaks of Shigella organisms, and Aeromonas species are associated with exposure to the marine environment.

Animal-borne bacteria

Animals can transmit particular bacteria. Exposure to young dogs or cats is associated with Campylobacter transmission. Exposure to turtles is associated with Salmonella transmission.

Travel-associated infections

Travel history is an important and a useful clue in determining bacterial etiology. Enterotoxigenic E coli is the leading cause of traveler's diarrhea. RotavirusShigella, Salmonella, and Campylobacter species are prevalent worldwide and need to be considered, regardless of specific travel history.

The risk of contracting diarrhea while traveling is the highest in Africa. Travel to Portugal, Spain, and Eastern European countries is also associated with a relatively high risk. Organisms associated with travel to particular locations are as follows:

  • Nonspecific - Enterotoxigenic E coli and Aeromonas, Giardia, Plesiomonas, Salmonella, and Shigella species

  • Developing tropics -C perfringens

  • Africa - Entamoeba species and Vibrio cholerae

  • Americas (South and Central) - Entamoeba species and V cholerae

  • Asia - V cholerae

  • Australia, Canada, Europe -Yersinia species

  • India - Entamoeba species and V cholerae

  • Japan, North America (Atlantic coast [8] ) - V parahaemolyticus

  • Mexico - Aeromonas, Entamoeba, Plesiomonas, and Yersinia species

  • New Guinea - Clostridium species

Bacteria associated with preexisting conditions

Preexisting medical conditions can predispose patients to infections with particular organisms. The following list outlines such medical conditions and their associated organisms:

  • C difficile - Hospitalization with antibiotic administration

  • Plesiomonas species - Liver diseases or malignancy

  • Salmonella species - Intestinal dysmotility, malnutrition, achlorhydria, hemolytic anemia (especially sickle cell disease), immunosuppression, and malaria

  • Rotavirus - Hospitalization

  • Giardia species - Agammaglobulinemia, chronic pancreatitis, achlorhydria, and cystic fibrosis

  • Cryptosporidia - Immunocompromise and immunosuppression

Outbreaks

Outbreaks are caused by particular bacteria, including enterohemorrhagic E coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, C perfringens, and Salmonella species.

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Physical Examination

Dehydration is the primary cause of morbidity and mortality in cases of gastroenteritis. Assess every patient for signs, symptoms, and severity of dehydration. Lethargy, depressed consciousness, dry mucous membranes, sunken eyes, poor skin turgor, and delayed capillary refill should raise the suspicion for dehydration.

Malnutrition is typically a sign of a chronic process. Reduced muscle and fat mass is found. This is usually due to the development of secondary carbohydrate intolerance.

Abdominal pain is a common symptom in gastroenteritis. Nonspecific, nonfocal abdominal pain and cramping are common with some organisms. This pain usually does not increase with palpation. Focal abdominal pain worsened by palpation, rebound tenderness, or guarding should alert the clinician to possible complications or to another noninfectious gastrointestinal diagnosis.

Borborygmi, defined as a significant increase in peristaltic activity with small bowel diarrhea, can cause an audible and/or palpable increase in bowel activity.

Perianal erythema results from the passage of many stools causing a constantly wet area. Failure to properly dry the buttocks and perianal area results in erythema and skin breakdown.

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