Abstract
Diarrhoea due to enteric pathogens is a significant health burden. Molecular testing, especially multiplex polymerase chain reaction and microarray testing, is becoming routine for investigation of gut pathogens.
Article Extract
Diarrhoea due to enteric pathogens is a significant health burden. Data from the Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health (BEACH) study of visits to GPs in 2015–16 revealed that diarrhoea accounts for 0.7% of encounters with GPs.1 Enteric infections are estimated to result in 2.71 million visits to doctors and half a million stool tests performed in laboratories each year.2 Enteric infections are often self-limiting but some patients require diagnostic investigations.