Health Conditions A-Z Digestive Disorders Gastrointestinal Infections What Is a Gastrointestinal Infection? By Amanda Gardner Amanda Gardner Amanda Gardner is a freelance health reporter whose stories have appeared in cnn.com, health.com, cnn.com, WebMD, HealthDay, Self Magazine, the New York Daily News, Teachers & Writers Magazine, the Foreign Service Journal, AmeriQuests (Vanderbilt University), and others. health's editorial guidelines Updated on November 26, 2023 Medically reviewed by Jay N. Yepuri, MD Medically reviewed by Jay N. Yepuri, MD Jay N. Yepuri, MD, MS, FACG, is a board-certified gastroenterologist and member of the Digestive Health Associates of Texas Board of Directors and Executive Committee. learn more In This Article View All In This Article Types of Gastrointestinal Infections Gastrointestinal Infection Symptoms What Causes Gastrointestinal Infections? How Are GI Tract Infections Diagnosed? Treatments for Gastrointestinal Infection How To Prevent Gastrointestinal Infections When To Contact a Healthcare Provider A Quick Review Abdominal infections—sometimes called gastrointestinal (GI) infections—affect your abdominal area. Types of stomach infections include ones caused by germs or those acquired in and beyond a hospital. Gastrointestinal infection symptoms can include diarrhea, nausea, cramps, lack of appetite, and fever. Most of these infections go away on their own in a few days, but those that linger can be treated with antibiotics or antiparasitic medications, depending on the exact cause. If needed, a healthcare provider can identify the organism causing your symptoms with a lab test. Read on to learn more. Types of Gastrointestinal Infections Gastrointestinal infections can be categorized in several ways based on the location of the infection in the body, germ causes, and where they are acquired. Body Area-Based Infections You may end up with an upper or lower GI infection. Upper GI infections occur in the mouth, esophagus, or stomach, while lower GI tract infections affect the intestines. Also, the severity of the infection depends on what part of the body is involved and on the particular organ. Infections that spread beyond the original site are called "complicated" infections and could lead to sepsis or even septic shock, which is life-threatening. Germ-Based Infections Different germs—bacteria, parasites, and viruses—can all lead to stomach infections. The germs responsible for abdominal infections can depend on: Degree of economic developmentGeographic regionHygienic standardsSanitation level Location-Based Infections Abdominal infections can also be differentiated by where you initially get infected. Community-acquired infections are spread outside of healthcare facilities, such as hospitals. Hospital-acquired infections (nosocomial infections) come from healthcare settings. They are typically more serious as they can involve difficult-to-treat, antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Signs and Symptoms of Stomach Flu Signs and Symptoms of a Stomach Virus What Causes E. Coli Infections? Signs and Symptoms of an E. Coli Infection Gastrointestinal Infection Symptoms The major symptoms of gastrointestinal infections can include: Abdominal painDiarrheaFeverNausea and vomitingStomach cramps Generally, GI infection symptoms may only last a few days in most cases. If they persist beyond a few weeks, it's time to get medical help. What Causes Gastrointestinal Infections? Bacteria and viruses are the most common causes of gastrointestinal infections. In adults, norovirus causes the most infections, and in children, it's rotavirus. Adenoviruses frequently cause abdominal infections in children. Salmonella is the most common bacteria causing gastroenteritis. It hides in contaminated meat products, chicken, produce, and eggs. Other common bacterial sources of gastrointestinal infection are: Staphylococcus aureus, found on your skin and in foods like meat, poultry, eggs, dairy products, and eggs Shigella, found in feces and contaminated water Bacillus cereus, linked with fried rice Campylobacter, in dairy products, produce, meat, and poultry Escherichia coli (E. Coli), found in water contaminated with feces, produce, uncooked beef, and unpasteurized milk Clostridium difficile, often contracted in healthcare settings, which means it often affects people who are already medically vulnerable. Listeria, from produce, deli meats, and undercooked meats. Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori), from dirty water or eating utensils, as well as food or another person's body fluids, including saliva. This type of infection is linked with ulcers and stomach cancer. Parasites are another cause of gastrointestinal infections. Parasites include Giardia lamblia (found in water), intestinal worms, such as hookworm and tapeworm, Cryptosporidium, and Toxoplasma gondii. In communities, infections often spread from person to person or through contaminated food or water. In healthcare settings, they can also spread via contaminated equipment, such as catheters or surgical instruments. What Is a Stomach Virus? Signs and Symptoms of Listeria Infection What Is Salmonella? How Are GI Tract Infections Diagnosed? Many abdominal or gastrointestinal infections don't need to be diagnosed, as they typically go away on their own in a few days. If you need to see a healthcare provider, the provider will likely start by asking questions and giving you a physical examination in the office. Laboratory tests can often reveal exactly what is causing the infection. Examples of testing might include: Breath tests: A provider can test a person's breath to detect the presence of bacteria, like H. pylori.Imaging tests: These tests, such as CT scans, can deliver more information on the condition of the internal organs with pictures.Molecular tests: A provider may use this test to look for traces of an organism; they can return results quickly, sometimes in just a few hours.Stool sample: A stool sample allows a provider to examine a person's stools for infections from bacteria and parasites. Stomach Flu Treatment and How Long It Lasts BRAT Diet: What To Eat When You Have a Stomach Virus or Diarrhea Foods To Avoid When Your Stomach Is Upset What Is Gut Dysbiosis? Treatments for Gastrointestinal Infection The many gastrointestinal infections that go away on their own typically don't need to be treated, just as they don't require a diagnosis. That doesn't mean there's nothing you can do. Drinking lots of water and other fluids is important to replace those lost through diarrhea and vomiting. When you're ready to eat, focus on bland foods like the BRAT (banana, rice, apple, toast) diet rather than high-fat, high-fiber, and dairy products. The most common treatment for bacterial infections is antibiotics. A healthcare provider will choose an antibiotic based on the specific infection. Hospital-acquired infections, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), can be much more difficult to treat because they no longer respond to many commonly used antibiotics. Antibiotics can also treat some parasitic infections, as can antiparasitic medications, but there really are no treatments for viral infections. You have to monitor them and make sure you don't get dehydrated. If you do get dehydrated, you may need to go to the hospital to be given intravenous (IV) fluids. If an abscess develops, you may need a drain to remove contaminated fluid from your body. Occasionally, surgery is needed to remove an infected and inflamed appendix or may be needed to remove an ulcer, for example. How To Prevent Gastrointestinal Infections The best way to prevent gastrointestinal infections is to practice good hygiene, which includes: Keeping bathroom and kitchen surfaces cleanWashing your hands well after using the bathroom, before eating or preparing food, and often in betweenUsing an alcohol-based sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water aren't available Proper food handling and preparation can also prevent abdominal infections: Always wash raw fruits and vegetables before eating. Make sure all meat is cooked thoroughly (and don't eat undercooked meat when you're dining out). Refrigerate leftovers right after the meal. Clean surfaces frequently, especially after they've been in contact with raw meat or eggs. When traveling, don't eat anything raw (unless it's a banana) and only drink water that's been boiled or comes from a bottle, even when brushing your teeth. When To Contact a Healthcare Provider While GI infections can go away without treatment or medical attention, there are times when you should see a healthcare provider. The following are symptoms of severe infections that need medical attention: Blood in your vomit or stool Chest pain Confusion Dehydration Headaches Irregular heartbeat Weakness Weight loss A Quick Review Abdominal infections, or GI infections, are caused by various germs, like bacteria and viruses. Diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal infections vary, and the infections can be prevented with hygienic practices. Also, symptoms of GI infections range from diarrhea to nausea and vomiting, which may go away on their own. However, seek medical care for symptoms such as fever, signs of severe dehydration, or unintentional weight loss. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit 16 Sources Health.com uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Alby K, Nachamkin I. Gastrointestinal infections. Hayden RT, Wolk DM, Carroll KC, Tang YW, eds. Microbiol Spectr. 2016;4(3):4.3.44. doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.DMIH2-0005-2015 Sartelli M, Chichom-Mefire A, Labricciosa FM, et al. The management of intra-abdominal infections from a global perspective: 2017 WSES guidelines for management of intra-abdominal infections. World Journal of Emergency Surgery. 2017;12(1):29. doi:10.1186/s13017-017-0141-6 Burd EM, Hinrichs BH. Gastrointestinal infections. In: Leonard DGB, ed. Molecular Pathology in Clinical Practice. Springer International Publishing; 2016:707-734. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-19674-9_50 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 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