Rational protocols for testing faeces in the investigation of sporadic hospital-acquired diarrhoea

Many recent studies have demonstrated that routine examination of faeces fo r conventional enteric pathogens such as salmonella, shigella, campylobacte r and parasites in patients who develop sporadic hospital-acquired diarrhoe a is unnecessary and wasteful. In this paper the advantages and disadvantag es of a restricted testing protocol in patients with hospital-acquired diar rhoea are reviewed. Practical issues for safe implementation of such a prot ocol are also discussed. (C) 2001 The Hospital Infection Society.