Bacterial gastroenteritis Health Article

Definition

Bacterial gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the stomach and intestines caused by bacteria.

See also:

• Food poisoning
• Shigella gastroenteritis
• Viral gastroenteritis

Alternative Names

Infectious diarrhea - bacterial gastroenteritis; Acute gastroenteritis; Gastroenteritis - bacterial

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Many different types of bacteria can produce the symptoms associated with bacterial gastroenteritis, including:

• Campylobacter jejuni (see: Campylobacter enteritis)
• Clostridium
• E. coli (see: E. coli enteritis)
• Salmonella (see: Salmonella enteritis)
• Shigella (see: Shigella enteritis)
• Staphylococcus
• Yersinia

Some sources of the infection are:

• Bakery products
• Dairy products
• Improperly prepared food
• Reheated meat dishes
• Seafood

Risk factors are:

• Eating or drinking improperly prepared foods or contaminated water
• Traveling or living in areas of poor sanitation

About 1 in 1,000 people develop bacterial gastroenteritis each year.

Symptoms

Each organism causes slightly different symptoms but all result in diarrhea. Other symptoms include:

• Abdominal cramps
• Abdominal pain
• Bloody stools
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting

Signs and tests

• Examination of food for bacteria
• Stool culture positive for the bacteria 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

Treatment involves replacing fluids and electrolytes (salt and minerals) that the body loses when you have diarrhea. In rare cases, blood transfusions are required.

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

Persons with diarrhea, especially young children, who are unable to drink fluids due to nausea may need medical attention and fluids by IV ( intravenously).

If you take "water pills" (diuretics), you may need to stop taking the medication during an acute episode of diarrhea, as directed by your health care provider.

Ask your doctor before using any antidiarrheal medicines.

Antibiotic or antimicrobial therapy is usually not needed unless the rest of the body is affected.