By far, the most common cause of acute diarrhea is an infection with a virus. This is known as viral gastroenteritis or, more commonly, "the stomach flu."
Several types of bacteria can cause acute diarrhea. These include:
Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) -- A common contaminant of processed meats and custard-filled pastries.
Clostridium perfringens -- A common contaminant in foods that have been warmed on steam tables.
Bacillus cereus -- A common contaminant of rice and bean sprouts.
Salmonella species -- A contaminant of eggs and poultry. Typhoid fever is an infection caused by the Salmonella typhi bacterium.
Shigella -- This bacterium is common in daycare settings and in rural villages in developing countries.
Escherichia coli (E. coli) -- Undercooked or raw hamburger has been implicated in many of the documented outbreaks of E. coli; however, outbreaks have also involved:
Alfalfa sprouts
Unpasteurized fruit juices
Dry-cured salami
Lettuce
Game meat
Cheese curds.
Campylobacter jejuni -- A contaminant of poultry. It is also found in household pets.
Yersinia enterocolitica -- A bacterium that causes an infection known as yersiniosis. This infection is caused by eating infected meat or dairy products.
Vibrio parahaemolyticus -- An infection with this bacterium often results from eating raw seafood, especially oysters.
Vibrio cholerae -- An infection with this bacterium (commonly referred to as cholera) is common in developing countries and results from drinking contaminated water.
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