Acute bacterial diseases.

The manner by which bacteria cause diarrhea has been clarified as a result of the understanding of mechanisms involved in fluid secretion. It is conceivable that many of the undiagnosed mass of diarrheal cases are in fact caused by E. coli or other organisms capable of eleborating an enterotoxin or of invading the epitehlial surfaces of the gastrointestinal tract. Confirmation of this concept would permit a better estimation of the importance of "viruses" in causing diarrhea. Proper treatment for bacterial diarrhea requires fluid replacement. Antibiotic therapy and antidiarrheal drugs need to be used with caution since they may worsen the diarrheal process or may complicate recovery.