INFECTIOUS

GASTROENTERITIS

Tamara Fulkerson
Allison Geary

Infectious gastroenteritis is
caused by a group of viruses,
bacteria and parasites capable of
causing serious communicable
diarrhea, massive fluid and
electrolyte loss, sepsis and death.

ETIOLOGY
Ingestion of contaminated
food or water and personto-person contamination are
the most frequent causes of
infectious gastroenteritis in
the United States.

Electron Micrographs of viruses that cause gastroenteritis in humans. A

= rotavirus, B = adenovirus, C = norovirus and D = astrovirus. They
are shown at the same magnification of approximately x 200,000
*Rotavirus is the most common cause of gastroenteritis in
children

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Diarrhea
Anorexia, Nausea and Vomiting
Abdominal pain
Tenesmus cramping and rectal pain
Fever
Dehydration in extreme cases

DIAGNOSIS

Stool culture to identify pathogen

Expensive and commonly result in false- negative
findings

Presence of WBCs and blood in stool

Supports presumptive diagnosis

Blood cultures
May be
needed in acutely ill infant or young child

Sigmoidoscopy
To
determine amount of mucosal involvement, obtain
more reliable sample for culture and diagnose the
disease

TREATMENT
IV fluids or PO electrolyte replacement liquids Used for
water
Used for water replacement and correcting fluid and
disturbances
Hospitalization is common in infants and small children
Allows for continued assessment and management of symptoms
or sepsis
Antimicrobial therapy
Used for treatment of Shigella, Giardia and in some cases of
C. diff and E. coli
Rotavirus vaccine
An oral vaccine for babies that protects against rotavirus
infection, a common cause of diarrhea and sickness

ROTAVIRUS VACCINE
In 2006, the first vaccine for rotavirus become available.
Rotavirus vaccination is recommended for all children, starting at
two months of age in a two- or three-dose series spread over many
weeks, to be completed by the time the infant is four months old
(for the two-dose series) or six months old (for the three-dose
series).
Vaccines against rotavirus prevented more than 176,000
hospitalizations, 242,000 emergency department visits, and 1.1
million doctor's visits in the first four years they were available.
Study authors estimate that this resulted in a cost savings of $924
million.

NURSING
DIAGNOSIS

Deficient Fluid Volume related to severe diarrhea

Interventions
Administer oral or parenteral rehydration to replace fluid
and electrolyte losses
Monitor pulse, respirations, blood pressure, skin turgor
and capillary refill
Monitor total fluid intake and output
Weigh daily and watch for sudden decreases
Monitor serum electrolytes
Provide frequent oral care

References
McKinney, E.S., James, S.R., Murry, S.S., Nelson, K. A., &
Ashwill, J.W. (2013). Maternal-Child Nursing. St. Louis:
Elsevier.
World Health Organization. Rotovirus. Retrieved (10
March 2015) from Http://www.who.int/biologicals/areas/
vaccines/rotavirus/background/en/
The History of Vaccines. Rotovirus. Retrieved (19 March
2015) from http://www.historyofvaccines.org/
content/articles/rotavirus