Traveller's Diarrhoea (Anticipatory Management)

Comments from Expert Advisory Group

  • Antibiotic treatment is only indicated for those patients who are at high risk of severe adverse outcomes if they contract  travellers’ diarrhoea
  • Discuss the likelihood of travellers’ diarrhoea with someone who is planning to travel and advise about avoidance measures to decrease the risk of illness: safe foods, beverages, and eating establishments
  • Consider referring travellers who have special health needs (for example, HIV infection, immunocompromised, pregnant) to a specialist travel clinic for advice
  • Limit prescription of antibiotics to be carried abroad and taken if illness develops (stand-by) to people for whom an episode of travellers' diarrhoea could be dangerous. See table below for further information regarding “stand-by” antibiotics for this at risk group.
  • AVOID the routine use of prophylactic antibiotics - seek specialist advice before prescribing.
  • Useful links for additional information;

Treatment

Drug Dose Duration +/- Notes
Stand-by treatment – see notes above

Azithromycin

 

 

1000mg

or

500mg every 24 hours

STAT

 

3 days

Larger STAT dose may be associated with increased side effects including nausea which may limit acceptability.

 

 

Safe Prescribing (visit the safe prescribing page)


Reviewed July 2023


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