Gastroenteritis is an acute transient diarrhoeal illness with or without vomiting due to an enteric infection, most commonly caused by e.coli

Epidemiology:

• Gastroenteritis is estimated to affect 1 in 5 people in the UK each year.
• Worldwide, acute infective diarrhoea is a major cause of mortality, particularly in children under 5 years old.
• In resource-rich settings (e.g. UK), gastroenteritis is usually a self-limiting illness with symptomatic treatment only. Accounts for up to 2 million deaths annualy

Transmission:

• Faecal-oral route
• Foodborne - By enterotoxins
• Airborne (e.g. vomiting)
• Environmental (e.g. contaminated surfaces)

Aetiology

• Staphylococcus aureus: usually found in cooked meats and cream products.
• Bacillus cereus: mainly found in reheated rice.
• Clostridium perfringens: usually found in reheated meat dishes or cooked meats.