Revisiting Bacterial Gastroenteritis, Part I: Issues, Possible Approaches, and an Ever-Expanding List of Etiologic Agents

Over the past 20 years, the number of bona fide or reputed bacterial species involved in diarrheal syndromes has increased by logarithmic proportions. Such increases have presented the clinical laboratory and microbiologist with numerous challenges in establishing an etiologic diagnosis. These challenges include the cost-effectiveness of stool cultures, searching for appropriate etiologic agents based upon medical histories and exposures, and selection of media and testing formats. Part I of this two-part review updates current issues, concepts, and approaches to establishing a laboratory diagnosis of bacterial gastroenteritis.