ETIOLOGY, DIAGNOSIS AND COURSE OF INFECTIOUS DIARRHEAS AT LIESTAL-CANTONAL-HOSPITAL (5-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE STUDY)

Between 1987 and 1991 219 patients (1.3% of all hospitalized patients) with acute infectious diarrhea were investigated retrospectively. 52% of the patients were hospitalized and 48% were outpatients. In 55% the inducing diarrhea microorganism could be identified. The most frequently detected pathogens were endemic Salmonella sp. and Campylobacter jejuni (65%). Imported diarrheas (Shigella sp. and parasites) were rare, as only 15% of the patients had a history of travel. All Clostridium difficile infections were associated with antibiotic treatment. The stool examinations for bacteria were positive in 92/160 patients (57%). Stool examinations for occult blood or fecal leukocytes were highly useful in detecting the infectious agent. In 70% of the patients with positive occult blood test or 81% of the patients with fecal leukocytes, an infectious agent in the stool was found. All patients recovered with few complications. 31% of the patients were treated by antibiotics because of septic disease or pathogenic parasites.