Diarrhea due to Infections

The following general instructions and recommendations have been prepared as a guide to individuals who are carriers or are contacts of persons who have had infectious diarrhea. Diarrhea caused by an infection may result from:

• Parasites, such as Cryptosporidium parvum, Cyclospora cayetanensis, Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, or microsporidia.
   

• Bacteria, such as Campylobacter, Clostridium difficile, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enteritidis, or Shigella.
   

• Viral infections, such as HIV, rotavirus or Norwalk agent.

We suggest that all household contacts who are ill with diarrhea submit stool specimens. See the fact sheet entitles “Instructions for Collecting Stool Samples” in this section. Children are more susceptible to acquiring and spreading these infections and may not exhibit any symptoms.

The only way to be sure that the organism is gone whether you have been treated or not is to submit follow-up stools. Stool specimen collection kits are available from Public Health upon request. Please call and speak to a communicable diseases investigator.

How can I prevent infectious diarrhea?

The importance of good personal hygiene cannot be overemphasized for the entire household. Close adherence to the following recommendations should help prevent spreading the infection to other people:

• Hand hygiene should be consistently reinforced with children. Young children should be assisted while hand washing.
   
• Hand washing is the single most important way of preventing the spread of infection.
   
• Hands should be washed by using soap and warm water, scrubbed until a lather is generated, rinsed, and towel dried.

Hands should be washed:

• before and after preparing food
   

• before eating
   

• before and after diapering children
   

• after using the toilet
   

• after handling soiled diapers, undergarments, towels, facecloths, and bedding
   

• after contact with pets, especially after handling pet faeces (litter box, cages etc.)
   

• after handling livestock

Drink clean or purified water and use proper food handling techniques.

Wash and disinfect all bathroom fixtures frequently, especially water taps, flush lever and toilet seat.

Dishes and eating utensils should be disinfected by using a recommended sanitizer. Household bleach is the most effective. Bleach can be added to the rinse cycle of your dishwasher or in a sink of clean warm water at a ratio of 1 ounce of bleach to 3 gallons of water. Ensure a contact time of 45 seconds is achieved.

Laundry, particularly soiled bedding, underclothing and towels used by the infected person, should be handled with care. This practice is extremely important if the individual is a child still in diapers or an incontinent adult.

If you or a household member gets diarrhea, it is important to prevent dehydration and get a correct diagnosis. Serious health problems can occur if you don’t maintain your body’s proper fluid levels. Diarrhea may become worse and hospitalization may be required if dehydration occurs. Many oral rehydration solutions such as Pedialyte^* and Oralyte^* are available at drug stores. Ask your pharmacist or health care provider for the product best for you.
 

CDC, Atlanta