Stool Cultures - Indications in Diarrhea
Patient Categories to Order Stool Cultures On:
• Persisting 1 week
• Bloody diarrhea
• Severe illness (diarrhea leading to hospitalization)
• High risk (immunocompromised, IBD, age > 70, pregnant)
• Public health (concern for potential outbreak)
Few infectious causes of acute gastroenteritis are of bacterial etiology.
Of 13,327 hospitalized patients with diarrhea, only 196 (1.5%) had a positive stool culture
Lauren Dunn Gilbert, MD @ldgilbert_MD via iMED @iMedEducation
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