What to know about stomach flu and antibiotics

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Antibiotics cannot treat viral gastroenteritis. This is because it is a virus that causes the infection, not bacteria.

However, people can use antibiotics to treat bacterial gastroenteritis, which people may refer to as food poisoning. Several different types of bacteria can cause food poisoning, including:

• Campylobacter
• Listeria
• Salmonella
• Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli
• Shigella
• Vibrio
• Yersinia

Although antibiotics can treat gastroenteritis if it is bacterial, not everyone will require or benefit from antibiotic treatment. This is especially true if the bacteria causing the condition is E. coli that produces the Shiga toxin.

Doctors may recommend antibiotics including azithromycin or fluoroquinolones such as ciprofloxacin in some cases, particularly if a person displays the following symptoms:

• produces more than 6 stools per day
• has a fever
• requires hospitalization

Doctors may also wish to prescribe antibiotics for bacterial gastroenteritis if a person has specific risk factors, including:

• being age 70 or older
• being pregnant
• having an immunocompromising condition
• having certain other health conditions that make them susceptible to infection

Stomach flu typically resolves on its own after a few days, so most people will not need to speak with a doctor.

Treatment options for viral gastroenteritis typically center around replenishing lost fluids and electrolytes and getting lots of rest to help conserve energy and prevent dehydration.

People may try oral rehydration solutions to help replace electrolytes they lose if they become dehydrated. Both vomiting and diarrhea can potentially cause dehydration.

People can also try replacing electrolytes with:

• water
• broths or soups, such as bone broth
• fruit juices
• sports beverages

Learn more about electrolyte drinks and how to make them.

Stomach flu is highly transmissible, meaning it can pass between people very easily. Therefore, it is extremely important to maintain high levels of hygiene and sanitation around the home, workplaces, and anywhere where groups of people share spaces and mix indoors.

To help prevent the transmission of stomach flu, people may try taking the following steps:

• having their children vaccinated against rotavirus, which is a cause of stomach flu
• refraining from cooking or handling food for other people if they have stomach flu
• washing their hands, especially before and after touching food, changing a baby’s diaper, or using the bathroom
• disinfecting any surfaces that infected vomit or stool may have touched
• washing any clothes, bedsheets, tablecloths, or other fabrics that may have come into contact with stool or vomit

If a person’s symptoms do not resolve with rest and fluids after a few days, they may wish to speak to a doctor, especially if they:

• are experiencing symptoms of severe dehydration, such as:
  • frequent dizziness
  • producing little or no urine
  • drowsiness or losing consciousness
• pass bloody diarrhea
• are vomiting and cannot hold any fluids down
• have a fever above 100.4°F (38°C)
• have not seen an improvement in their symptoms after several days
• have recently visited a part of the world with lower sanitation standards
• have a serious underlying condition, such as renal disease, inflammatory bowel disease, or a weak immune system, alongside vomiting and diarrhea

Antibiotics cannot treat stomach flu (viral gastroenteritis) as it does not result from a bacterial infection. Instead, viruses cause stomach flu. Viral gastroenteritis treatment focuses on preventing dehydration and getting lots of fluids and rest.

However, if a person has bacterial gastroenteritis, they may be able to treat the condition using antibiotics. Although, not everyone with the condition will require or benefit from antibiotic treatment.

A person should speak with a healthcare professional about which treatments may be most suitable for them.