Final answer:
When three patients cared for by the same PAB develop gastroenteritis simultaneously, the first thought should be to consider whether the gastroenteritis is bacterial or viral in nature.
Step-by-step explanation:
When hearing about three patients who were cared for by the same PAB developing gastroenteritis during the same time, the first thought would be to consider whether the gastroenteritis is caused by a bacterial infection or a viral infection.
In this case, it is important to rule out both possibilities. Bacterial gastroenteritis can be caused by pathogens such as Salmonella or Campylobacter, while viral gastroenteritis can be caused by viruses like rotavirus or norovirus.
Further examination, such as laboratory testing and analysis of symptoms, would need to be conducted to determine the specific causative agent of the gastroenteritis.