Management of Travelers Diarrhea: Are Antibiotics the Best Course of Action?

Authors

Lindsey J. Hatcher, University of LynchburgFollow

Specialty

Family Medicine

Advisor

Nancy Ried

Abstract

Purpose: To assess outcomes of patients with mild to moderate travelers’ diarrhea: does the use of antibiotic therapy reduce the course of disease as compared to patients treated conservatively

Method: A PubMed literature search was conducted with search terms travelers’ diarrhea, antibiotic therapy, conservative therapy. Twenty pertinent articles were retrieved, and they serve as the basis for this clinical review.

Results: Antibiotic Therapy is proven to be effective in reducing the duration of traveler’s diarrhea.

Conclusion: This research demonstrated a strong correlation of antibiotic therapy shortening the course of disease in patients with travelers' diarrhea. Travelers who did not seek care showed an average of symptoms for three days; this was twice as long as compared to those who received treatment.[n1] Patients who received only conservative treatment such as loperamide or bismuth subsalicylate experienced up to a 65% reduction in the frequency and severity of symptoms.Treatment options reviewed included three antibiotics: levofloxacin, rifaximin, and azithromycin and bismuth salicylate, and loperamide for the non-antibiotic care. Studies showed the shortest recovery time with patients who received both conservative and antibiotic therapy, followed by antibiotic therapy alone then conservative management alone.¹ However, due to an increased incidence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria globally, antibiotics are not recommended as first-line treatment for mild to moderate disease. Due to the self-limiting nature of the disease, antibiotic use should be reserved for at-risk populations or individuals with severe cases of Traveler's diarrhea.

Recommended Citation

Hatcher LJ. Management of Travelers Diarrhea: Are Antibiotics the Best Course of Action?. University of Lynchburg DMSc Doctoral Project Assignment Repository. 2020; 2(3).