1.2 Gastro-Enteritis Flashcards
What is the difference between Diarrhoea and Gastroenteritis?
- Diarrhoea - subjective (A change in pattern indicated Diarrhoea)
- Gastroenteritis - objective (Diarrhoea + other symptoms)
What changes during Diarrhoea?
- Fluidity of the stool
2. Frequency of the stool
What are the features of Gastroenteritis?
- 3+ loose stools per day
2. Accompanying features
Is a positive stool culture needed to have Gastroenteritis?
No, but need to have 3+ loose stools per day the other symptoms
Note - It is an objective finding but clinical, not always biological
What is Dysentery?
Large bowel inflammation due to infection
What is present with Dysentery?
- Bloody stools
- A lot of pain
Note - it is quite obvious when someone has contracted Dysentery
What is the name of the chart which stools are measured against?
The Bristol Stool Chart:
1 - Separate hard lumps, hard to pass
4 - Sausage / Snake like, smooth and soft
7 - Watery, no solid pieces, entirely liquid
What is the Aetiology of Gastroenteritis?
- Contamination of foodstuffs (intensity of farming - e.g. Chicken and Campylobacter)
- Storage of produce (Bacterial proliferation at room temperature)
- Salmonella in outbreaks (also imported from abroad in Travel Related Infections)
- Campylobacter in isolated cases (can also be imported)
What is the Epidemiology of Gastroenteritis?
- 25% of the population have an infectious intestinal disorder each year
- 2% of the population visit the GP because of GI infection
- For every reported case, there are an unreported:
- a) 10 GP consultations
- b) 147 community cases
What is the most common cause of Gastroenteritis?
- Viruses (e.g. Norovirus)
2. Campylobacter (most common bacterial pathogen with 280,000 cases per year)
- How many cases of food poisoning are there per year?
2. How many are linked to poultry meat?
- 500,000
2. 244,000
What is the bacterial pathogen of Gastroenteritis, which causes the most hospital admission each year?
Salmonella
What are the number of cases (in Scotland) of Gastroenteritis caused by:
- Campylobacter?
- Salmonella?
- E. Coli O157?
- 6,366
- 736
- 253
Note - E. Coli O157 is not a big organism but it is important as it has more complex complications
What is the best defence against Gastroenteritis?
- Hand Hygiene
- Decrease Stomach pH - Taking PPI’s make you more susceptible to bacterial infection
- Normal Flora - taking antibiotics alter normal flora (e.g. C. Diff infection)
- Immunity - Immunosuppression leaves you more susceptible to infection
How is Gastroenteritis treated?
- Rehydration therapy:
- a) Oral salt/sugar solution
- b) IV saline
- Antimicrobials
- Treatment of complications
Why is a salt/sugar solution used in Oral Rehydration?
The salt is being lost from the gut lining, so the salt is replaced.
Glucose is used as well as they share a transporter and so increased absorption
Should routine antidiarrhoeals be given in Gastro-enteritis?
No
How long can those with Campylobacter Gastroenteritis be incubated for?
Up to 7 days, so dietary history may be inreliable
How long will it take for stool sample to be negative?
6 weeks
What clinical feature is associated with Campylobacter Gastroenteritis?
Severe abdominal pain