Traveler's diarrhea
Background
- Most respond to antibiotics
- As duration of diarrhea increases, higher chance of parasitic cause
- Most cases of traveler’s diarrhea are caused by bacterial enteropathogens, whereas bacterial pathogens cause less than 15% of endemic diarrhea cases in adults living in their home country[1]
- At risk populations- Immunosuppressed, diabetes, taking meds to suppress acid production
- Greatest contributor to illness poor hygiene in restaurants [2]
Etiology[1]
Organism | Latin America and Caribbean | Africa | South Asia | Southeast Asia |
Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli | ≥35 | 25-35 | 15-25 | 5-15 |
Enteroaggregative E coli | 25-35 | <5 | 15-25 | No data |
Campylobacter | <5 | <5 | 15-25 | 25-35 |
Salmonella | <5 | 5-15 | <5 | 5-15 |
Shigella | 5-15 | 5-15 | 5-15 | <5 |
Norovirus | 15-25 | 15-25 | 5-15 | <5 |
Rotavirus | 15-25 | 5-15 | 5-15 | <5 |
Giardia | <5 | <5 | 5-15 | 5-15 |
Clinical Features[1]
- Travel
- 3 or more unformed stools per 24 hours
- Plus (at least 1 of the following):
- The average duration of untreated traveler’s diarrhea is 4 to 5 days
Differential Diagnosis
Acute diarrhea
Infectious
- Viral (e.g. rotavirus)
- Bacterial
- Campylobacter
- Shigella
- Salmonella (non-typhi)
- Escherichia coli
- E. coli 0157:H7
- Yersinia enterocolitica
- Vibrio cholerae
- Clostridium difficile
- Parasitic
- Toxin
Noninfectious
- GI Bleed
- Appendicitis
- Mesenteric Ischemia
- Diverticulitis
- Adrenal Crisis
- Thyroid Storm
- Toxicologic exposures
- Antibiotic or drug-associated
Watery Diarrhea
- Enterotoxigenic E. coli (most common cause of watery diarrhea)[3]
- Norovirus (often has prominent vomiting)
- Campylobacter
- Non-typhoidal Salmonella
- Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC)
- Enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis
Traveler's Diarrhea
Evaluation[1]
Uncomplicated Diarrhea
- No workup
Fever, Bloody Stools, or Ill Appearing
- Stool culture
- Systemic toxicity
- Extended workup including blood cultures
Persistent or Refractory Diarrhea (>14 days)
- Typically not done in the ER (at follow-up)
- Stool culture (including Salmonella, Shigella, and Campylobacter)
- Stool O&P (including testing for protozoal parasites, Giardia, Cryptosporidium)
- Fecal leukocytes, giardia antigen, C. difficile PCR
Management
Supportive Care
- Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto Bismol) ~524 mg every 30 to 60 minutes or 1,050 mg every 60 minutes as needed (maximum: ~4,200 mg/24 hours)[4]
- Consider IVF if dehydrated
- Consider loperamide 4mg PO followed by 2mg after each loose stool (Max: 16mg/day)[1]
- If very frequent stools and no contra-indication:
- Not pregnant
- >2 years old
- Fever or bloody stools without concomitant antibiotics (do not use as sole therapy)
- If very frequent stools and no contra-indication:
Antibiotics[1]
- Ciprofloxacin 750mg PO once daily x 1-3 days[5]
- First choice for use except in South and Southeast Asia[6]
- Azithromycin 500mg PO q24h x 3 days OR 1000mg PO x 1[7]
- Rifaximin 200mg PO TID x 3 days[10]
- Ineffective against mucosally invasive pathogens (Shigella, Salmonella, Campylobacter)
- Considered very safe as it is not absorbed
Pediatrics
Antibiotic Options:
- Avoid fluroquinolones
- Azithromycin 10mg/kg/day once daily x 3 days OR[11]
- Ceftriaxone 50mg/kg/day once daily x 3 days
Disposition
- Outpatient for the vast majority
- Consider admission if systemic toxicity
Complications
See Also
External Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Steffen R, et al. Traveler’s Diarrhea: A Clinical Review. JAMA. 2015;313(1):71-80. doi:10.1001/jama.2014.17006
- ↑ http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2016/the-pre-travel-consultation/travelers-diarrhea
- ↑ Marx et al. “Cholera and Gastroenteritis caused by Noncholera Vibrio Species”. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine 8th edition vol 1 pg 1245-1246.
- ↑ Brum, et al. Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses Assessment of the Clinical Efficacy of Bismuth Subsalicylate for Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diarrhea. Dig Dis Sci. 2021; 66(7): 2323–2335. doi: 10.1007/s10620-020-06509-7
- ↑ Hoge CW. et al. Trends in antibiotic resistance among diarrheal pathogens isolated in Thailand over 15 years. Clin Infect Dis. 1998;26:341–5
- ↑ Steffen R, et al. Traveler’s Diarrhea: A Clinical Review. JAMA. 2015;313(1):71-80. doi:10.1001/jama.2014.17006
- ↑ Sanders JW. et al. An observational clinic-based study of diarrheal illness in deployed United States military personnel in Thailand: presentation and outcome of Campylobacter infection. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2002;67:533–8
- ↑ Steffen R, et al. Traveler’s Diarrhea: A Clinical Review. JAMA. 2015;313(1):71-80. doi:10.1001/jama.2014.17006
- ↑ Steffen R, et al. Traveler’s Diarrhea: A Clinical Review. JAMA. 2015;313(1):71-80. doi:10.1001/jama.2014.17006
- ↑ DuPont HL. et al. Rifaximin versus ciprofloxacin for the treatment of traveler’s diarrhea: a randomized, double-blind clinical trial. Clin Infect Dis. 2001;33:1807–15
- ↑ Stauffer WM, Konop RJ, Kamat D. Traveling with infants and young children. Part III: travelers’ diarrhea. J Travel Med. 2002;9:141–50