Guide to the management of gastro-intestinal infections (Cryptosporidiosis):

• Infection is acquired from contact with infected humans or animals or after ingestion of contaminated water.

• Produces watery diarrhoea which can last for up to 2 to 3 weeks (or longer in immunosuppressed patients).

• No specific treatment is currently available in the UK.

• This is a notifiable disease as clusters of cases warrant further investigation to exclude a common source

• Please discuss with a medical microbiologist or infectious disease physician if the patient is immunosuppressed and has continuing diarrhoea as specific therapy may be warranted.

Caution; the antibiotic doses recommended on this website are intended for adult patients with normal renal and liver function unless otherwise stated. Dosing advice for patients with renal impairment is available here.

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