Collection

Gastrointestinal infections: guidance, data and analysis

The characteristics, diagnosis, management and epidemiology of gastrointestinal infections.

Published 1 July 2014
Last updated 31 January 2020 — see all updates

• From: Public Health England

Infectious intestinal diseases affect 1 in 5 people in the UK each year and symptoms are not confined to diarrhoea and vomiting.

Public Health England (PHE) monitors trends in infection and outbreaks, drawing on data from:

• PHE reference laboratories
• the national laboratory reporting scheme
• consultants in communicable disease control (CCDCs)
• environmental health officers (EHOs)
• microbiologists

For trends in zoonotic infection in humans and animals, see Zoonoses in the UK.

Diagnosis

Gastrointestinal bacteria reference unit (GBRU) is the reference laboratory for a range of gastrointestinal pathogens. Details about GBRU services and request forms are available from the detailed guide below.

1. GBRU: reference and diagnostic services
   • 3 August 2018
   • Guidance

Management

1. Gastrointestinal infections: guidance for public health management
   • 31 January 2020
   • Guidance
2. Amoebiasis: public health operational guidelines
   • 23 November 2017
   • Guidance
3. Preventing person-to-person gastrointestinal infections
   • 10 April 2004
   • Guidance
4. Farm visits: avoiding infection
   • 27 February 2019
   • Guidance
5. Hygiene and catering at large events: follow-up study
   • 10 July 2013
   • Research and analysis
6. Swim healthy
   • 24 June 2019
   • Guidance
7. Care homes: infection prevention and control
   • 18 February 2013
   • Guidance
8. Shigellosis: public health management and questionnaire
   • 30 November 2017
   • Guidance
9. Typhoid and paratyphoid: public health operational guidelines
   • 19 May 2017
   • Guidance
10. Ready-to-eat foods: microbiological safety assessment guidelines
    • 1 November 2009
    • Guidance
11. Norovirus: managing infection in cruise ships
    • 1 July 2007
    • Guidance
12. Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli: public health management
    • 8 August 2018
    • Guidance

Epidemiology

1. Common gastrointestinal infections in England and Wales: laboratory reports in 2014
   • 9 January 2015
   • Research and analysis
2. Less common gastrointestinal infections in England and Wales: laboratory reports in 2014
   • 9 January 2015
   • Research and analysis
3. Foodborne illness in humans: general outbreaks in England and Wales in 2014
   • 12 December 2014
   • Research and analysis
4. Gastrointestinal illness: outbreak investigation following a mass-participation River Thames swim
   • 1 May 2013
   • Research and analysis

Surveillance

1. Foodborne and non-foodborne gastrointestinal outbreaks surveillance
   • 26 March 2015
   • Guidance

Published 1 July 2014
Last updated 31 January 2020 + show all updates

1. 31 January 2020

   Added: 'Gastrointestinal infections: guidance for public health management'.

2. 6 August 2018

   Added 'Shiga toxin- producing Escherichia coli (STEC): public health management and questionnaire' in 'Management' section.

3. 13 December 2017

   Added 'Shigellosis: public health management and questionnaire'.

4. 24 November 2017

   Added 'Amoebiasis: public health operational guidelines' under management section.

5. 21 February 2017

   Added new section for surveillance.

6. 1 July 2014

   First published.