For uncomplicated Salmonella gastroenteritis, antibiotics should be:

For uncomplicated Salmonella gastroenteritis, antibiotics should be:

• A. Routinely used
• B. Used only in elderly
• C. Used in all cases with fever
• D. Not routinely used

Answer: (D)

Uncomplicated Salmonella gastroenteritis is usually self-limited and improves with supportive care alone. Antibiotics do not reliably speed recovery in these cases and can shorten stool shedding only marginally while increasing the risk of adverse effects and driving antimicrobial resistance. For this reason, antibiotics are not routinely used. They should be reserved for patients at higher risk of complications or invasive disease (for example, very young children, older adults, or immunocompromised individuals) or when there is evidence of bacteremia, focal extraintestinal infection, or severe dehydration requiring hospitalization. In these situations, treatment decisions are individualized based on risk factors and clinical course.

Uncomplicated Salmonella gastroenteritis is usually self-limited and improves with supportive care alone. Antibiotics do not reliably speed recovery in these cases and can shorten stool shedding only marginally while increasing the risk of adverse effects and driving antimicrobial resistance. For this reason, antibiotics are not routinely used. They should be reserved for patients at higher risk of complications or invasive disease (for example, very young children, older adults, or immunocompromised individuals) or when there is evidence of bacteremia, focal extraintestinal infection, or severe dehydration requiring hospitalization. In these situations, treatment decisions are individualized based on risk factors and clinical course.