Spectrum of Acute Diarrhea in a General Hospital

Abstract

Typhoid fever is declining but morbidity produced by nontyphoid salmonellae (numbering several hundred species) is increasing. Gastroenteritis caused by salmonellae rarely requires antibiotic therapy. The case for antibiotic treatment of carriers is even less convincing. While chloramphenicol unquestionably shortens the course of typhoid fever, its efficacy in preventing development of a carrier state might well be negligible.