Acute gastroenteritis diagnostic practices of New Zealand general practitioners.
OBJECTIVE
A sample of New Zealand general practitioners was surveyed to determine the laboratory referral practices of general practitioners for patients with acute gastroenteritis, with particular reference to viral gastroenteritis.


METHODS
A mail questionnaire was sent to 209 general practitioners throughout New Zealand.


RESULTS
The most important criteria for laboratory referral of a diarrhoeal specimen were prolonged duration of illness, presence of blood in the stool, a recent history of overseas travel, tramping or camping, shellfish consumption, or if the patient worked in the food, child care, or health care industries. Most general practitioners reported that they would refer diarrhoeal specimens from less than 25% of their patients with acute gastroenteritis. Requests for testing for viruses other than rotavirus were rare.


CONCLUSIONS
The viral agents causing acute gastroenteritis were less likely to receive laboratory confirmation than other causes of gastroenteritis. On the basis of current laboratory investigation practices of general practitioners, foodborne viral gastroenteritis outbreaks are unlikely to be identified as such in New Zealand.
Sarfati
D
D
Epidemiology Group, Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd, Porirua.
Bates
M N
MN
Garrett
N
N
Baker
M G
MG
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*