Causes of Gastroenteritis in Hospitalized Adults
Author Information
Author(s): Jansen Andreas, Stark Klaus, Kunkel Jan, Schreier Eckart, Ignatius Ralf, Liesenfeld Oliver, Werber Dirk, Göbel Ulf B, Zeitz Martin, Schneider Thomas
Primary Institution: Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
Hypothesis
What are the causes and characteristics of community-acquired, acute gastroenteritis in hospitalized adults?
Conclusion
The study found that known enteric pathogens were detected in 82% of adult patients hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis.
Supporting Evidence
- Campylobacter spp. was the most frequently detected pathogen at 35%.
- Viral infections, particularly norovirus, were found in a significant number of patients.
- Coexisting medical conditions were linked to longer hospital stays.
Takeaway
Doctors looked at sick adults in the hospital to find out what made them have stomach problems. They found germs in most of the patients.
Methodology
A prospective cohort study was conducted from August 2005 to August 2007, examining stool specimens from hospitalized patients for various gastrointestinal pathogens.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the exclusion of patients with known inflammatory bowel disease and other conditions associated with diarrhea.
Limitations
The study population may differ from other adult populations with gastroenteritis, and not all patients provided paired serum samples for serology.
Participant Demographics
Median age of participants was 48 years, with 45% being male.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 1.8–7.4
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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