Practical considerations in the laboratory diagnosis of bacterial enteric infections

Diarrheal diseases caused by bacterial pathogens are important causes of morbidity in the United States, and considerable laboratory resources are spent to detect these enteric pathogens. This article reviews recent developments in the detection and identification of Campylobacter spp, enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, and Clostridium difficile, and outlines cost-effective strategies for use of stool cultures.