3: GI infection control

Question 1

What causes GI infections in the community?

Answer 1

Cross-contamination

Undercooking

Poor storage of food

Poor reheating of food

Question 2

Which bacteria causes hospital-related diarrhoea?

Answer 2

C. difficile

Question 3

Clostridium difficile produces ___ which produce disease.

Answer 3

toxins

Question 4

C. difficile is part of the normal gut flora. When does infection occur?

Answer 4

Broad spectrum antibiotics reduce compeition and allow C. diff to increase in number

Question 5

Is C. diff killed by alcohol gel?

Answer 5

No

requires proper handwashing

Question 6

What are the symptoms of C. diff infection?

Answer 6

Diarrhoea +/- blood

Abdominal pain

Question 7

What is a serious complication of C. diff infection?

Answer 7

Bowel dilation

Perforation

Peritonitis

more common in vulnerable patients.

Question 8

How is C. diff infection treated?

Answer 8

Less severe = oral metronidazole

More severe = oral vancomycin

Question 9

Which drugs should be avoided when treating C. diff infection?

Answer 9

4 Cs:

Cephalosporins like ceftriaxone

Clindamycin

Ciprofloxacin

Co-amoxiclav

Question 10

Is C. diff gram positive or gram negative?

Answer 10

Gram positive

Question 11

Clostridium difficile is a gram (positive / negative) (coccus / bacillus).

Answer 11

positive

bacillus

Question 12

What forms on the colon of someone with a C. diff infection?

Answer 12

Pseudomembrane

Question 13

What does a GDH test confirm?

Answer 13

C. diff infection

Question 14

After a GDH test, what other test is done to confirm C. diff infection?

Answer 14

Toxin test

Question 15

If the GDH test is positive, what does that mean?

Answer 15

Positive for C. diff infection

Question 16

If the GDH test is negative but the toxin test is positive, what does that mean?

Answer 16

Positive for C. diff infection

Question 17

If the GDH test is positive but the toxin test is negative, what does that mean?

Answer 17

Indeterminate result

Question 18

What are two examples of viruses which cause diarrhoea?

Answer 18

Rotavirus

Norovirus

Question 19

What is a virus which commonly causes diarrhoea and vomiting in children less than 5 years old?

Answer 19

Rotavirus

Question 20

Rotavirus infection in children tends to be (self-limiting / severe).

Answer 20

self-limiting

Question 21

Rotavirus infection causes dehydration. How is this treated?

Answer 21

Rehydration therapy

Question 22

A vaccine now exists for rotavirus. What type of vaccine is this?

Answer 22

Live attenuated

Virus is still “alive” but has been altered to be less virulent

Question 23

Which virus is also known as the “winter vomiting bug” and is highly infectious?

Answer 23

Norovirus

Question 24

What symptoms are associated with norovirus infection?

Answer 24

Sudden onset explosive D&V

Question 25

At which point in the infection are patients most infectious?

Answer 25

**Diarrhoea stage**

Question 26

Patients, particularly with *C. diff* and norovirus infection, should be isolated in ___ \_\_\_.

Answer 26

**side rooms**

Question 27

Which infections would prompt you to send a patient to the ID unit?

Answer 27

*E. coli 0157* Salmonella Norovirus *C. difficile*

Question 28

\_\_\_ hygiene is important in infection control.

Answer 28

**Hand**

Question 29

If you develop D&V, how long should you stay off work for? Who should be informed?

Answer 29

**48 hours after symptoms have stopped** **OHSAS**