Abstract

Many kinds of bacteria cause gastroenteritis and typically manifests with symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort. These symptoms can vary and range from mild to severe. In some types of gastroenteritis, symptoms come on quickly, but in others, they don‘t appear for 24 to 48 hours. It is usually self-limited, but improper management of an acute infection can lead to a protracted course. Identification of an etiological agent by bacterial stool culture is required for the management of patients with severe or prolonged diarrhea, symptoms consistent with invasive disease, or a history that may predict a complicated course of disease. Importantly, characterization of bacterial enteropathogens from stool cultures in clinical laboratories is one of the primary means by which public health officials identify and track outbreaks of bacterial gastroenteritis. The prevalence of each pathogen varies with geographical region and population factors. The focus of this review, are responsible for 10–55% of diarrheal episodes, with highest rates occurring in the developing world. However, with increase in international travel and globalization of the food industry, we must be alert to pathogens that which is more typical of the developing world. Increasing antibiotic resistance must also be considered when choosing empirical treatment. Advances in molecular and rapid detection of enteric pathogens hold promise of improved therapeutic, preventative and control strategies.

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