How are bacterial digestive infections treated?
Treatment for bacterial digestive infections begins with seeking medical care from your health care provider. To determine if you have a bacterial digestive infection, your health care provider may ask you to provide stool samples for laboratory tests.
Antibiotic therapy is the mainstay of treatment for bacterial digestive infections and is highly effective. It is important that you follow your treatment plan for bacterial digestive infection precisely and take all of the antibiotics as instructed to avoid re-infection or recurrence.
Antibiotics for the treatment of bacterial digestive infections
Antibiotic medications that are effective in the treatment of bacterial digestive infections include:
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Ceftriaxone (Rocephin)
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Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
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Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra)
If you have diarrhea and vomiting, your health care provider may also recommend fluid and electrolyte replenishment as a component of successful treatment
What you can do to improve your bacterial digestive infections
In addition to following your health care provider’s instructions and taking all medications as prescribed, you can speed your recovery by:
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Ensuring adequate hydration by drinking plenty of water and electrolyte solutions
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Getting plenty of rest
If you have a bacterial digestive infection, it is important to practice good hygiene to avoid spreading the infection to those who have close contact with you. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water after using the bathroom or touching any contaminated bedding or clothing. Do not use public pools, hot tubs, or recreational water facilities until your infection has cleared.
What are the potential complications of bacterial digestive infections?
You can help minimize your risk of serious complications by following the treatment plan you and your health care professional design specifically for you. Complications of bacterial digestive infections include:
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Postinfectious arthritis (joint pain, eye irritation, and painful urination)
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Spread of infection
References:
Shigellosis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/divisions/dfbmd/diseases/shigellosis/. Accessed May 7, 2011.
Bacteria and foodborne illness. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC). http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/bacteria/. Accessed May 7, 2011.
INTRODUCTION
What are bacterial digestive infections?
Bacterial digestive infections are diseases that affect the digestive organs as a result of ingesting of infectious bacterial organisms. Infectious bacteria scientifically known as Escherichia coli (E coli), Salmonella, and Shigella are the most common causes of bacterial digestive infections. Each of these infections causes
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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...
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