Gastroenteritis and antibiotic-associated diarrhea

Prim Care. 2003 Mar;30(1):63-80, vi. doi: 10.1016/s0095-4543(02)00060-x.

Abstract

Acute gastroenteritis is a common cause of emergency and office visits. This article reviews causes, pathogenesis, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. The incidence of antibiotic-associated colitis is increasing worldwide as a consequence of widespread use of broad-spectrum antibiotics for various illnesses. The pathogenic organism, Clostridium difficile, produces two enterotoxins, toxin A and toxin B, that cause colonic mucosal inflammation. C. difficile infection presents with a wide range of clinical manifestations, from asymptomatic carriers to life-threatening pseudomembranous colitis.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / adverse effects*
  • Bacterial Proteins*
  • Bacterial Toxins / adverse effects
  • Diarrhea / chemically induced*
  • Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / microbiology*
  • Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / therapy
  • Enterotoxins / adverse effects
  • Gastroenteritis* / diagnosis
  • Gastroenteritis* / microbiology
  • Gastroenteritis* / therapy
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / isolation & purification
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / isolation & purification
  • Humans

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Enterotoxins
  • tcdA protein, Clostridium difficile
  • toxB protein, Clostridium difficile