Gastroenteritis and antibiotic-associated diarrhea.
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.
Jabbar
Abdul
A
Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, 530 South Jackson Street, Digestive Health Center, Louisville, KY 40292, USA.
Wright
Richard A
RA
D000208:Acute Disease; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000009:adverse effects; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000009:adverse effects; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004768:Enterotoxins; C041348:tcdA protein, Clostridium difficile; C031815:toxB protein, Clostridium difficile