Patient selection: suspected foodborne illness
Clinical findings - nondiarrheal:
(1) fever
(2) unexplained weight loss
(3) sudden onset of nausea and vomiting
(4) severe abdominal pain
(5) paresthesias, motor weakness, cranial nerve palsy, other neurologic findings
Clinical findings - diarrheal:
(1) bloody and/or inflammatory diarrhea
(2) sudden onset of diarrhea
(3) diarrhea leading to dehydration
(4) prolonged diarrhea (>= 3 unformed stools per day for several days)
Vulnerable populations:
(1) infants and young children
(2) elderly
(3) immunocompromised
The presence of one or more clinical findings, especially in a vulnerable population, is an indication for stool culture.
