Welcome to the GI IMPACT Study Webpage
What is gastroenteritis?
Gastroenteritis is an infection of the stomach and intestines (bowel). When people say they have a "stomach bug" they usually mean gastroenteritis. Most of the time, gastroenteritis is caused by a virus but bacteria and parasites can also cause it. The infection causes runny or watery bowel movements (diarrhea), stomach cramps or pain, and sometimes vomiting. Many of the germs that cause gastroenteritis are very easy to spread to other people.
What is this study about?
The GI IMPACT Study seeks to understand how healthcare providers diagnose (find out why someone is sick) and treat gastrointestinal infections. There is a new test that can be used to look at stool specimens (poop) for 22 different kinds of bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause diarrhea and vomiting. We want to understand if better diagnosis using this new test improves how healthcare providers, children, and their parents deal with gastroenteritis. This test is called the FilmArray GI Panel and additional information about it can be found by clicking here.
Where can I find more information about the germs that cause gastroenteritis (including one my child or I may have)?
We have put together additional information about each of the 22 germs that are detected by the FilmArray GI Panel. Information for patients can be accessed here. Information for clinicians can be accessed here.