Infectious Diseases of the Gastrointestinal Tract

Endoscopy and colonoscopy are increasingly used to evaluate patients who present with persistent gastrointestinal complaints. Advances in ancillary molecular and staining techniques in the realm of infectious disease have expanded our knowledge of morphologic features, allowing pathologists to provide timely and accurate diagnoses in many cases. This chapter reviews clinical and histologic features of gastrointestinal infections, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Characteristic inflammatory patterns, morphologic findings that aid their identification, and helpful ancillary techniques are highlighted throughout.