Bacterial Digestive Infections: Causes

What causes bacterial digestive infections?

Bacterial digestive infections are most commonly caused by the bacteria Escherichia coli (E coli), Salmonella, and Shigella. Campylobacter is another type of bacteria that can cause infection of the gastrointestinal tract. The bacteria are present in the stool (feces) of infected people and animals. When water sources are contaminated with feces containing the pathogen, drinking from these water sources spreads the bacteria. Swimming in contaminated water may also result in contracting a bacterial digestive infection. For this reason, bacterial digestive infections occur most frequently in people traveling in developing countries or in children who touch infected human or animal feces without proper hand washing. Birds and insects can also carry the infectious bacteria to humans.

What are the risk factors for bacterial digestive infections?

A number of factors increase the risk of developing bacterial digestive infections. Not all people with risk factors will get bacterial digestive infections. Risk factors for bacterial digestive infections include:

• Attendance or work in a day care setting
• Close contact with an infected person or animal
• Consumption of untreated water from lakes, rivers or streams
• Fecal to oral contact
• Travel in countries where the infection is common
• Use of public swimming pools

Reducing your risk of bacterial digestive infections

You can lower your risk of developing or transmitting bacterial digestive infections by:

• Drinking only purified water when backpacking, camping or hiking
• Drinking only purified water when visiting developing countries
• Not swallowing water in swimming pools, hot tubs, or other recreational water sources
• Using purified water for brushing your teeth and washing food when visiting developing countries
• Washing your hands well with soap and water after touching feces, having contact with an infected person or animal, changing diapers, or using the bathroom, and before eating or preparing food