BACKGROUND: Denmark has in recent years experienced an increase in the number of bacterial gastrointestinal infections.

METHODS: We have reviewed patients hospitalized with culture-confirmed bacterial gastroenteritis in Roskilde County during 1991-93.

RESULTS: Two hundred and seven patients were included; 68 were children (< 15 years). The microorganism isolated was Salmonella in 61% of the cases, Campylobacter in 20% and Yersinia enterocolitica in 13%. Ninety-three per cent of the patients had diarrhea, 74% had fever (> 38 degrees C), and 66% abdominal pain. Blood in stools was most frequent in patients infected with Campylobacter. Leukocytosis was rare. Twenty-four patients had bacteremia. Reactive arthritis occurred in 4.8%. Three patients died, all infected with zoonotic Salmonella types. Three stool cultures were made for 115 patients, and in 73% all 3 cultures were positive.

CONCLUSIONS: Bacterial gastroenteritis requiring hospitalization affects mainly children and young adults. Infections due to zoonotic Salmonella types were more severe than Campylobacter and Y. enterocolitica gastroenteritis. It seems necessary to make at least three stool cultures to secure a bacteriologic diagnosis.