Improving the Diagnosis of Diarrhoea in Emergency Rooms

A point-of-care laboratory (POC) was set at North Hospital, Marseille, France for the diagnosis in less than two hours of diarrhoea caused by known pathogens, close to the reception of Emergency service. In this instance 30% of patients have no etiological diagnosis after the POC diarrhoea tests . This lab has discovered over 200 new species of bacteria in humans, including vector bacteria and opened the field of large Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA ) viruses. Also, the laboratory of emerging viruses discovered many Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) viruses transmitted by arthropods. Based on this collection of new pathogens described in POC laboratory, this study proposes to expand the etiological diagnosis strategy of diarrhoea after POC tests.

Percentage of patients admitted in emergency rooms for diarrhoea with confirmed etiological diagnosis

Inclusion Criteria: Patient admitted at hospital for diarrhoea requiring, for the emergency physician, a microbiological examination with a "POC diarrhoea kit." Patient who has freely signed the informed written consent Patient affiliated to a social security scheme Exclusion Criteria: Pregnant woman, parturient or nursing Adult major under guardianship Patient deprived of liberty under court order Patient refusing or unable to sign the informed consent form.