Acute gastroenteritis
Key points
- Bacterial gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the stomach and intestines caused by bacteria or bacterial toxins.
- Many different types of bacteria can produce the symptoms associated with bacterial gastroenteritis including salmonella, shigella, staphylococcus, Campylobacter jejuni, clostridium, E. coli, yersinia, and others.
- Treatment The objective of treatment is to replace fluids and electrolytes (salt and minerals) lost by diarrhea.
- With most infections, symptoms improve with fluid and electrolyte replacement within a week.
Alternative names
Infectious diarrhea - bacterial gastroenteritis; Bacterial gastroenteritis; Gastroenteritis - bacterial
Definition
Bacterial gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the stomach and intestines caused by bacteria or bacterial toxins. (Also see Food poisoning.)
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Many different types of bacteria can produce the symptoms associated with bacterial gastroenteritis including salmonella, shigella, staphylococcus, Campylobacter jejuni, clostridium, E. coli, yersinia, and others. Some sources of the infection are improperly prepared food, reheated meat dishes, seafood, dairy, and bakery products. Each organism causes slightly different symptoms but all result in diarrhea. Colitis, inflammation of the large intestine, may also be present.
Risk factors are consumption of improperly prepared foods or contaminated water and travel or residence in areas of poor sanitation. The incidence is 1 in 1,000 people.
Related topics:
Symptoms
- nausea and Vomiting
- diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Abdominal pain
- Abdominal cramps
- Bloody stools
Signs and tests
- Stool culture positive for causative organism
- White blood cells on fecal smear
Written and revised by
Gerald Hurowitz, M.D.
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