Patient selection: pediatric patient with nausea and vomiting associated with gastroenteritis
Indications for submitting stool specimens for microbiologic evaluation:
(1) Sepsis is suspected (also do blood cultures).
(2) There is blood or mucus in the stool.
(3) The patient is immunosuppressed or immunodeficient (immunocompromised).
Additional reasons to consider stool testing:
(1) history of recent travel abroad
(2) failure of the gastroenteritis to improve within 7 days
(3) the diagnosis of gastroenteritis is uncertain
If you decide to submit stool specimens for testing:
(1) Make sure that the appropriate specimen is collected correctly.
(2) Transport the specimen to the laboratory correctly.
(3) Provide appropriate clinical information to the laboratory.
(4) Consult with the laboratory if you suspect a diagnosis that may require special testing such as the hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS).
