Gastroenteritis - Bacterial Disease Summary

Overview

Infectious diarrhea is defined as diarrhea of infectious origin and is usually associated with symptoms of nausea and vomiting, fever, and abdominal cramps, as stated in the Introduction section.

Bacterial gastroenteritis usually affects children >2 years of age. A detailed discussion about the prevalence of bacterial gastroenteritis is in the Epidemiology section.

Common pathogens causing pediatric bacterial gastroenteritis include Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp, Shigella sp, Clostridioides difficile, Campylobacter jejuni, and Yersinia enterocolitica. Discussion on these pathogens is in the Etiology section.

The Pathophysiology section states that bacterial gastroenteritis is transmitted through the fecal-oral route, ingestion of contaminated meat, or exposure to poultry and other farm animals. The developmental process of bacterial gastroenteritis in infected patients is in this section.

The Risk Factors section enumerates the different conditions that are associated with the development of bacterial gastroenteritis.

The types of diarrhea by duration are in the Classification section.

Gastroenteritis - Bacterial_Disease Summary

History and Physical Examination

The Clinical Presentation section describes the clinical features suggestive of toxin-induced food poisoning, traveler’s diarrhea, watery diarrhea, and bloody diarrhea.

The History section described the different information that should be noted in the evaluation of bacterial gastroenteritis, while the important examinations that should be done in a patient with bacterial gastroenteritis are in the Physical Examination section.

Diagnosis

Discussions on diagnostic tests to be considered in patients with acute gastroenteritis are in the Laboratory Tests and Ancillaries section. 

Other conditions that should be ruled out in the diagnosis of bacterial gastroenteritis are listed in the Differential Diagnosis section.

Management

Patients presenting with acute diarrhea should be assessed for the severity of dehydration, and are discussed in the Evaluation section.

General therapy principles and management of bacterial gastroenteritis are in the Principles of Therapy section.

The Pharmacological Therapy section discusses the different empiric antibiotics that may be given to patients with bacterial gastroenteritis, including adjunctive therapies and other agents.

The Nonpharmacological section emphasizes the importance of rehydration and dietary therapy for patients with acute diarrhea depending on the hydration status. This section also includes things to educate the patient and the parents about the management of bacterial gastroenteritis. 

Measures that should and should not be practiced to reduce the risk of bacterial gastroenteritis are discussed in the Prevention section.

The Monitoring section identifies the indication for specialist referral in patients with bacterial gastroenteritis.