Fecal-oral transmission among humans has not been proven. Transmission via blood products has occurred. Culture is usually positive within 2 weeks after onset of disease. Instruct the laboratory to plate enteric specimens onto enteric media, with incubation at 25 C for 48 hours. In the presence of suspected postinfectious disease, bacteriologic confirmation generally is not possible.
Care is primarily supportive.
Antibiotics do not influence the course of uncomplicated enteritis. Always aggressively treat infants younger than 3 months, immunocompromised children, and patients with extraintestinal disease. This treatment is best accomplished in a hospital setting with intravenous antibiotics. If the child is dehydrated, institute appropriate oral rehydration. Intravenous rehydration may be necessary if the child is in critical condition or unable to keep down fluids.