Bacteriology & Antibiotics

Bacterial gastroenteritis

Bacterial gastroenteritis happens when bacteria causes an infection in your gut. This causes inflammation in stomach and intestines. While viruses cause many gastrointestinal infections, bacterial infections are also common. Some people call this infection “food poisoning.”  Symptoms are vomiting, severe abdominal cramps, and diarrhea. Bacterial gastroenteritis can result from poor hygiene. Infection can also occur after close contact with animals or consuming food or water contaminated with bacteria (or the toxic substances bacteria produce).

Symptoms of bacterial gastroenteritis

• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal pains and cramps
• Blood in your stools
• Fever

Causes of bacterial gastroenteritis

Numerous bacteria can cause gastroenteritis, including:

• Yersinia, found in pork
• Staphylococcus, found in dairy products, meat, and eggs
• Shigella, found in water (often swimming pools)
• Salmonella, found in meat, dairy products, and eggs
• Campylobacter, found in meat and poultry
• E. coli, found in ground beef and salads

Prevention / Treatment

The best ways to prevent gastrointestinal infection include:

• Proper hand-washing
• Disinfecting of contaminated surfaces with bleach
• Identifying infected patients as soon as possible to implement extended infection control
• Rehydration – oral and sometimes intravenous
• Antibiotics may be recommended in particularly severe cases of gastroenteritis, or if a specific bacteria has been identified as the cause.