Bacterial Diarrhea

Overview

4.7 out of 5 (131 Reviews)

Credits

2.00

Pharmacology Credits

0.5

Post-Assessment Questions

12

Start Date

1 Sep 2023

Last Review Date

21 Jan 2025

Expiration Date

31 Aug 2026

Estimated Time To Finish

120 Minutes


Unlimited Nurse Practitioner CE

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Activity Description

Acute diarrheal illnesses pose a serious global public health threat, and prompt and effective treatment is crucial. The World Health Organization characterizes diarrhea as the passage of loose or watery stools 3 or more times a day. Viral infections cause most acute diarrhea and typically resolve with supportive care. Bacterial infections can present with symptoms that may overlap with those of viral gastroenteritis. Key clinical features suggesting a bacterial etiology include fever, bloody or mucoid stools, severe abdominal pain, recent antibiotic use, and hospitalization. Common bacterial pathogens include SalmonellaShigellaCampylobacter jejuniYersinia enterocoliticaClostridioides difficile, and Escherichia coli. While most bacterial infections are self-limited, they can lead to severe complications like sepsis, seizures, hemolytic uremic syndrome, Guillain-Barré syndrome, and death.

Management focuses on distinguishing bacterial from viral causes to guide appropriate treatment. Oral rehydration therapy is the cornerstone of care, with intravenous fluids reserved for severe cases. Empiric antibiotics are used selectively in high-risk scenarios, such as severe illness or bloody diarrhea with fever. In contrast, clinicians avoid antibiotics for Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli to prevent hemolytic uremic syndrome. Stool studies, including cultures and polymerase chain reaction, are warranted in severe or prolonged cases, epidemic settings, or high-risk patients to identify the causative pathogen and guide therapy.

Accurate diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic use are essential in managing diarrhea to avoid unnecessary testing, prevent complications, and mitigate antibiotic resistance. This activity emphasizes the importance of a strategic approach in deciding when to conduct stool studies, initiate empiric antibiotic therapy, and administer intravenous fluid resuscitation. This educational activity equips clinicians with essential knowledge and skills to manage this common yet potentially life-threatening condition.

By thoroughly understanding current guidelines, participants will enhance their ability to balance oral rehydration therapy with more intensive interventions. Additionally, clinicians will gain insight into the appropriate use of antimicrobials, including when to withhold treatment, ensuring effective patient management while minimizing unnecessary testing, reducing antibiotic misuse, and combating the growing threat of antibiotic resistance. By navigating the nuances of diagnosing and treating bacterial diarrhea, clinicians can deliver evidence-based, patient-centered care, improving patient outcomes and reducing complications.


Target Audience

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of physicians, physician associates, nurses, pharmacists, and nurse practitioners.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, the learner will be better able to:

  • Identify the common bacterial pathogens responsible for diarrhea, including Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, and Escherichia coli.

  • Apply infection control measures to prevent the spread of bacterial diarrhea in healthcare settings and the community.

  • Select appropriate diagnostic tests, including stool cultures, polymerase chain reaction tests, and antigen detection assays, to confirm a bacterial etiology of diarrhea.

  • Communicate effectively with the healthcare team, including nurses, pharmacists, and laboratory personnel, to ensure timely diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and comprehensive patient education for bacterial diarrhea management.

  • Outline the pharmacologic therapy as it applies to Bacterial Diarrhea

Disclosures

StatPearls, LLC requires everyone who influences the content of an educational activity to disclose relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies that have occurred within the past 24 months. Ineligible companies are organizations whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. All relevant conflict(s) of interest have been mitigated. Hover over contributor names for financial disclosures. Others involved in planning this educational activity have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Commercial Support: This activity has received NO commercial support.

Continuing Education Accreditation Information

In support of improving patient care, StatPearls, LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

 

Nurse Practitioners: StatPearls designates this activity for 2.00 ANCC contact hour(s), which includes 0.5 hour(s) of pharmacology. NPs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Please consult your professional licensing board for information on the applicability and acceptance of continuing education credit for this activity.

Method of Participation and Credit

  1. Register for the activity.    
  2. Review the target audience, learning objectives, and disclosure information.
  3. Study the educational content of the enduring material.
  4. Choose the best answer to each activity test question. To receive credit and a certificate, you must pass the test questions with a minimum score of 100%.
  5. Complete the post-activity assessment survey.

If you have concerns regarding the CE/CME system, please contact support@statpearls.com.

Disclaimer

This educational activity was planned and produced in accordance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Faculty may discuss investigational products or off-label uses of products regulated by the FDA. Readers should verify all information before employing any therapies described in this educational activity.

The information provided for this activity is for continuing education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical/clinical judgment of a healthcare provider relative to diagnostic and treatment options of a specific patient’s medical condition. The information presented does not necessarily reflect the views of StatPearls or any commercial supporters of educational activities on statpearls.com. StatPearls expressly disclaims responsibility for any adverse consequences resulting directly or indirectly from information in the course, for undetected error, or through a participant's misunderstanding of the content.

Unapproved Uses of Drugs/Devices: In accordance with FDA requirements, the audience is advised that information presented in this continuing education activity may contain references to unlabeled or unapproved uses of drugs or devices. Please refer to the FDA-approved package insert for each drug/device for full prescribing/utilization information.

Cancellation Policy: Please see the cancellation policy. StatPearls, LLC reserves the right to cancel any course due to unforeseen circumstances.

 

 
 

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Alex N. on 8/30/2022

Something was wrong with this program, it kept re-asking questions I had answered correctly. Also when I try to print the certificate or review the topic info by clicking on the red box, nothing happens.

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Unlimited Nurse Practitioner CE

Stay up to date on the latest medical knowledge with 6744 CE activities. In these online self-assessment activities, read our reference articles and test your knowledge with more than 8020.5 hours of CE.

Single Activity

Take this single activity

$98 1 activity

6 Month Unlimited Nurse Practitioner CE

Access to all the Unlimited Nurse Practitioner CE activities in all specialties.

$299 per half year per user

1 Year Unlimited Nurse Practitioner CE

Access to all the Unlimited Nurse Practitioner CE activities in all specialties.

$479 per 1 year per user