Guide to the management of gastro-intestinal infections (Viral/bacterial diarrhoea):

 Bacterial Infections

• Clostridium difficile (if antibiotic therapy in the last 4 weeks)- see separate guidance

• Salmonella sp

• Campylobacter sp

Less common causes

• Shigella sp

• Toxigenic E. coli (e.g. 0157 or ETEC causing travellers diarrhoea)

• Clostridium perfringens, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus can produce toxins which are responsible for some cases of food poisoning

• Vibrio cholerae and Aeromonas sp. if travel history to tropical countries

Viral Infections

• Rotavirus (common infection in young children 6-24 months of age)

• Adenoviruses (certain serotypes)

• Noroviruses (also known as small round structured viruses, can cause explosive outbreaks of vomiting and diarrhoea in hospitals and nursing homes, highly infectious)

• Calciviruses

Patient Management

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.

Read our copyright and disclaimer statement