Bacterial Gastroenteritis Questions & Answers

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

Overview

What is bacterial gastroenteritis?

What stool characteristics should be considered in the evaluation of suspected bacterial gastroenteritis?

How is diarrhea defined in bacterial gastroenteritis?

Which systemic features should be considered in the evaluation of bacterial gastroenteritis?

Which factors are associated with specific pathogens in bacterial gastroenteritis?

Which physical findings are characteristic of bacterial gastroenteritis?

Which assessments may be included in the workup of bacterial gastroenteritis?

How are culture media selected in the workup of bacterial gastroenteritis?

What is included in medical care for bacterial gastroenteritis?

What are antimicrobial treatment options for bacterial gastroenteritis?

What are dietary modifications for management of bacterial gastroenteritis?

What is the manifestation of bacterial gastroenteritis?

What are the leading causes of bacterial gastroenteritis?

How does the season influence the likely etiology of bacterial gastroenteritis?

What is the pathophysiology of bacterial gastroenteritis?

What is the role of verotoxin in the etiology of bacterial gastroenteritis?

Which normal enteric flora have pathogenic strains that cause gastroenteritis?

What is the role of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in the etiology of bacterial gastroenteritis?

What are the risk factors for bacterial gastroenteritis?

What is the prevalence of bacterial gastroenteritis in the US?

What is the global prevalence of bacterial gastroenteritis?

How does the prevalence of bacterial gastroenteritis vary by sex?

How does the prevalence of bacterial gastroenteritis vary by age?

What is the prognosis of bacterial gastroenteritis?

What is the morbidity and mortality of bacterial gastroenteritis?

What are common complications of bacterial gastroenteritis?

What is enteric fever in bacterial gastroenteritis?

What causes HUS in bacterial gastroenteritis?

What is Reiter syndrome in bacterial gastroenteritis?

How does dehydration occur in bacterial gastroenteritis?

What is the role of bacterial gastroenteritis in the etiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)?

What is the prevalence of carrier states in bacterial gastroenteritis?

What information about bacterial gastroenteritis should patients be given?

Presentation

How is diarrhea defined and stool assessed in the evaluation of bacterial gastroenteritis?

What are systemic symptoms of bacterial gastroenteritis?

Which food-borne pathogens cause bacterial gastroenteritis?

Which water-borne pathogens cause bacterial gastroenteritis?

Which animal-borne pathogens cause bacterial gastroenteritis?

What is the role of travel history in determining etiology in bacterial gastroenteritis?

Which pathogens are associated with particular locations in the etiology of bacterial gastroenteritis?

Which medical conditions can predispose patients to bacterial infections causing gastroenteritis?

What pathogens are associated with outbreaks of bacterial gastroenteritis?

What are the physical findings characteristic of bacterial gastroenteritis?

What are the physical findings of malnutrition in bacterial gastroenteritis and what do they signify?

How is abdominal pain characterized in bacterial gastroenteritis?

What is borborygmi in bacterial gastroenteritis?

What causes perianal erythema in bacterial gastroenteritis?

DDX

Which conditions should be considered in the differential diagnoses of bacterial gastroenteritis?

What are the differential diagnoses for Bacterial Gastroenteritis?

Workup

What is the initial approach to the workup for bacterial gastroenteritis?

How is C difficile infection diagnosed in bacterial gastroenteritis?

What is the role of bacterial cultures in the diagnostic assessment of bacterial gastroenteritis?

Which culture media are used in the workup of bacterial gastroenteritis?

What is the role of stool cultures in the diagnosis of bacterial gastroenteritis?

Why is it important to test for S typhimurium DT104 in bacterial gastroenteritis?

When is ingested food cultured for bacteria in the workup of gastroenteritis?

What raises the suspicion of enterohemorrhagic E coli in bacterial gastroenteritis?

What should prompt additional screening for Vibrio and Plesiomonas in the workup of bacterial gastroenteritis?

Treatment

What are the treatment options for bacterial gastroenteritis?

When is inpatient care indicated for the treatment of bacterial gastroenteritis?

Which specialist consultations are needed for the treatment of bacterial gastroenteritis?

When are dietary modifications indicated in the treatment of bacterial gastroenteritis?

Which dietary modifications are used in the treatment of bacterial gastroenteritis?

What is included in follow-up care for bacterial gastroenteritis?

What may reduce the risk of transmission of food and water-borne infections causing bacterial gastroenteritis?

Which vaccines are used to prevent bacterial gastroenteritis?

Which vaccines should infants receive to prevent bacterial gastroenteritis?

What is the role of RotaTeq in the prevention of bacterial gastroenteritis?

What is the role of Rotarix in the prevention of bacterial gastroenteritis?

Medications

What are the goals of drug treatment for bacterial gastroenteritis?

What are the risks and benefits of antibiotic treatment for bacterial gastroenteritis?

Which medications in the drug class Antibiotics are used in the treatment of Bacterial Gastroenteritis?