The empiric antibiotic therapy for acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is indi
cated only in patients with underlying diseases or risk for bacteremia
. The clinical characteristics, clinical efficiency of antibiotic ther
apy with pivmecillinam (52 patients) or ciprofloxacin (75 patients) an
d its effects on the fecal carrier state of Salmonella spp. were studi
ed in 127 adult patients with AGE and antibiotic therapy indication. T
he initial stool culture was positive in 90 patients (71%). The microo
rganism recovered most frequently was Salmonella spp., with a bacterem
ia rate in these patients of 5%. The susceptibility of Salmonella spp.
to ciprofloxacin and mecillinam was 100% and 90%, respectively. Thera
py with ciprofloxacin or pivmecillinam showed a similar efficiency. Fe
cal excretion lasted no longer than five weeks and no chronic carriers
were observed.