Etiologies of Bloody Diarrhea in Children Presenting With Acute Gastroenteritis to US Emergency Departments

Abstract

We used molecular testing to examine the causes of bloody diarrhea in a multicenter study of pediatric gastroenteritis. Pathogens typically associated with bloody diarrhea were detected in less than half of cases, and inappropriate antibiotic use was common, supporting the use of stool testing in patients with bloody diarrhea.