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Bacterial gastroenteritis - Overview

Alternative Names

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

Definition of Bacterial gastroenteritis:

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

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.

Digestive system

Digestive system organs

Reviewed last on: 2/20/2008
Linda Vorvick, MD, Family Physician, Seattle Site Coordinator, Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; and George F Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Zulfiqar AB. Acute Gastroenteritis in Children. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th Ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. Chap: 337.

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