Bacterial gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the stomach and intestines caused by bacteria or bacterial toxins.
See also: Food poisoning
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Many different types of bacteria can produce the symptoms associated with bacterial gastroenteritis, including:
Campylobacter jejuni
Clostridium
E. coli
Salmonella
Shigella
Staphylococcus
Yersinia
Some sources of the infection are:
Bakery products
Dairy products
Improperly prepared food
Reheated meat dishes
Seafood
Risk factors are:
Consumption of improperly prepared foods or contaminated water
Travel or residence in areas of poor sanitation
The incidence is 1 in 1,000 people.
Related topics:
Campylobacter enteritis
E. coli enteritis
Food poisoning
Salmonella enteritis
Shigella enteritis
Staph aureus food poisoning
Symptoms
Each organism causes slightly different symptoms but all result in diarrhea. Other symptoms include:
Abdominal cramps
Abdominal pain
Bloody stools
Colitis
Loss of appetite
Nausea and vomiting
Signs and tests
Examination of food for toxin and bacteria
Stool culture positive for the organism that causes the infection
White blood cells in the stool
This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:
Fecal smear
Stool gram stain
Treatment
The objective of treatment is to replace fluids and electrolytes (salt and minerals) lost by diarrhea. Blood transfusions are rarely required.
Antibiotic or antimicrobial therapy is usually not needed unless the rest of the body is affected. Ask your doctor before using any antidiarrheal medicines.
Self-care measures to avoid dehydration include:
Drinking electrolyte solutions to replace fluids lost by diarrhea
Eating no solid food until the diarrhea has passed
People with diarrhea, especially young children, who are unable to drink fluids due to nausea may need medical attention and intravenous fluids. People taking "water pills" (diuretics) need to be careful with diarrhea and may need to stop taking the medication during an acute episode, as directed by the health care provider.
Expectations (prognosis)
With most infections, symptoms improve with fluid and electrolyte replacement within a week. There are rare cases of patients with renal failure and even death due to the infection.
There have been increasing incidents of local outbreaks of severe infection with certain strains of E. coli bacteria. These outbreaks can be dangerous, especially to the elderly or very young children.
Complications
Arthritis
Dehydration
Kidney failure (rare)
Irritable bowel syndrome
Low blood counts (anemia)
Systemic infection
Calling your health care provider
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if:
You have blood or pus in your stools or your stool is black
You have abdominal pain that is not relieved by a bowel movement
You have symptoms of dehydration
You have a fever above 101 °F, or your child has a fever above 100.4 °F, along with diarrhea
You have foul-smelling or oily-looking stools
You have recently traveled to a foreign country
You have eaten with other people who also have diarrhea
You have started on a new medication
Your diarrhea does not get better in 5 days (2 days for an infant or child), or worsens before that
Your child has been vomiting for more than 12 hours (in a newborn under 3 months you should call as soon as vomiting or diarrhea begins)
Prevention
Proper handling, storage, and preparation of food -- in addition to good sanitation -- are principles of prevention.
Update Date:
2/20/2008Updated by:
Christian Stone, MD, Division of Gastroenterology, Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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