[Bacterial gastrointestinal infections: acute gastroenteritis].

The diagnosis of bacterial gastrointestinal infections is based on anamnesis, clinical signs and simple examinations of feces (fecal leucocytes, occult blood). Thereby it can be decided, whether a microbial identification by culture or an antibiotic therapy is indicated. In case of noninvasive infections mediated by enterotoxins, an oral substitution of liquid will suffice. An antibiotic therapy is indicated in case of severe, febrile dysentery, shigellosis, cholera, typhoid fever as well as severe infections by salmonella and clostridium difficile.