Which statement accurately contrasts antibiotic-associated diarrhea with traveler's diarrhea?

• A. C. difficile is linked to disruption of gut microbiota; traveler's diarrhea is often due to enterotoxigenic E. coli and managed with hydration and antibiotics in moderate cases
• B. C. difficile is caused by a virus; traveler's diarrhea is due to Shigella and requires antibiotics in all cases
• C. C. difficile is unrelated to gut microbiota; traveler's diarrhea is only viral
• D. Antibiotic-associated diarrhea and traveler's diarrhea are managed the same way

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that these two types of diarrhea come from different causes and are managed differently. Antibiotic-associated diarrhea happens when antibiotics disrupt the normal gut microbiota, allowing harmful organisms like Clostridioides difficile to overgrow and produce toxins that cause diarrhea and sometimes colitis. Traveler’s diarrhea is usually acquired abroad and is most often due to enterotoxigenic E. coli; it is typically self-limited and the mainstay of initial treatment is gentle oral rehydration, with antibiotics reserved for those with more significant symptoms or higher risk—hence antibiotics can be used in moderate cases.

That makes the statement correct: Clostridioides difficile is linked to disruption of gut microbiota, and traveler's diarrhea is often due to enterotoxigenic E. coli and managed with hydration, with antibiotics used selectively in moderate cases.