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Diarrhea affects 30% to 50% of travelers to developing countries and is usually caused by bacterial enteric pathogens -- Escherichia coli, Campylobacter jejuni, salmonella, and shigella. Antibiotics may be used, but resistance has increased worldwide. This prospective double-blind trial compared a single, early, 500-mg dose of ciprofloxacin with placebo for treating travelers' diarrhea in British marines in Belize.
Thirty-six percent of the marines developed diarrhea, defined as passage of one or more unformed stools; after exclusion of those with blood in the stools, fever of 38.5°C or higher, or the need for IV fluid therapy, 88 marines were randomized to ciprofloxacin or placebo. At presentation, the two treatment groups had a similar pri…