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Pathogens
Antimicrobials
Key Messages
Antibiotics are only required in special circumstances.
Focus on rehydration and electrolyte replacement for bacterial infectious diarrhea.
Stool cultures are not routinely recommended for hospital-onset diarrhea. (1)
Order Contact Precautions for patients with suspected infectious diarrhea.
History should include:
Food exposure
Fever
Sick contacts
Travel
Bloody diarrhea
Tenesmus
Animal exposures
Occupation
Water source
Sexual history
Recent antibiotic use
Immunocompromised state
Community-onset diarrhea
Hospital-onset diarrhea (onset greater than 3 days after admission)
Persistent diarrhea (7 days or more)
References
(1) Clin Microbiol. 1997;35(6):1427.
(2) Clinical Infectious Diseases 2001; 32-331-50.
(3) N Engl J Med 2014;370:1532-40
(4) Infectious Diarrhea - Guideline for Ordering Stool Specimens in British Columbia @ BCGuidelines.ca