Enteric infections

Author: Dr Amanda Peppercorn University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
2008-07-28

Yersinia enterocolitica. Source: Public Health Image Library

The topic of enteric infections encompasses all infections of the intestinal tract. Certain infections have an anatomic preference, - causing disease of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, or large intestine, while others can involve multiple anatomic areas of the intestinal tract or involve distant organs in addition to the intestines. While many systemic illnesses are caused by infectious agents that enter via the intestinal tract and disseminate, such as acute Hepatitis (Hepatitis A or Hepatitis B viruses) or Typhoid Fever (Salmonella typhi), only infections of the intestinal tract will be discussed in this article.