Clinical Flashcards
Severity Assessment Mild to Moderate CDI
- WCC < 15 x109/L
* < 5 stools of type 5 to 7 on the Bristol Stool Chart.
Severe CDI is associated with the following
- WCC > 15 x109/L
- An acute rising serum creatinine (i.e. >50% increase above baseline) a temperature of > 38.5°C
- Evidence of severe colitis (abdominal or radiological signs)
- The number of stools is a less reliable indicator of severity.
Life-threatening CDI includes:
- hypotension,
* partial or complete ileus, toxic megacolon or CT evidence of severe disease.
What do you put patient on if suspected CDI (what Is SIGHT)
Vancomycin oral or IV if not tolerated- start empircally
Clinicians should use this mnemonic (SIGHT) when managing CDI:
S- Suspect a case may be infective when there is no other obvious cause for diarrhoea
I- Isolate the patient & consult the Infection control team while determining the cause of diarrhoea
G- Gloves and apron must be used for all contacts with the patient and their environment
H- Hand washing with soap and water should be carried out before and after each contact with patient and their environment
T- Test the stool for C. difficle toxin by sending a specimen immediately to Microbiology.
Other:
· Severity assessment
· Review the need to continue antibiotics for other indications (if any) in conjunction with medical microbiology
· Look for signs of acute abdomen, ileus or toxic megacolon and order abdominal X-ray and refer to surgeons urgently if required.
· Stop contributory agents (i.e. laxatives)
· Stop antimotility agents where possible (i.e. loperamide, opiates)
· Need for fluid resuscitation and electrolyte replacement,
· Nutritional status
· Presence of signs of increasing severity of disease - refer to ITU early as patients may deteriorate very rapidly
Once confirmed
Fidaxomicin oral
If impossible give metrondizaole IV
May do surgical colectomy
Vitamin D metabolism what are the 3 ways that vitamin D gets in
3 ways of getting in vitamin D:
1. Vitamin D is formed from7-dehydro-cholesterol –via UV light> this forms cholecalciferol (vitamin D3)
(NOTE need 20 mins of sunlight)
2. Ergocalciferol (Vitamin D2)is formed from the diet supplementation
3. Via natural sources such as fish can getcholecalciferol (vitamin D3)
- Within the liver- Hydroxylation on C25 occurs–>calcidiol 25-hydroxy vitamin D3
Happens all the time viavitamin D 25 hydroxylase - Within the kidney
Hydroxylation on C1 via1a hydroxylaseoccurs–>1,25 dihydroxy vitamin D3which is active
This is the regulatory step which is controlled via PTH and calcium- this regulates how much vitamin D we need
What is 1mv equal to in mm and small squares on an ECG
10MM WHICH IS 10 SMALL SQUARES
What is the speed of an ecg
25mm/s
What is a large square equal to in mm and secs
5mm and 0.20 sec
What is a small square equal to in mm and secs
1mm which is 0.04s
What is an R wave
R wave is defined as the first POSITIVE deflection of a QRS complex (regardless if it preceded by a downwards peak (Q) or followed by a downwards peak (S)
What is a Q wave
Q wave is defined as the negative deflection before the R wave (i.e it is the first negative deflection of a QRS complex that is not preceded by a positive deflection but is then followed by a positive deflection (i.e an R wave)
What is an S wave
It is the negative deflection after the R wave
How to check the rhythm on an ECG- Regular/irregular/sinus (3 conditions)
Can be regular or irregular
If irregular is it regularly irregular (current pattern of irregularity) or irregularly irregular (completely disorganized)
To do this look at the R-R intevals
Sinus rhythm - cardiac impulse starts in the sinus node
P wave must be +v in I, II, AVF
P wave must be -ve in AVR
QRS must be after P
How to count the rate on an ECG
If its regular: 300/big boxes between R-R or 1500/small boxes
○ If it is irregular: No of QRS complexes x6 in the rhythm strip- As a rhythm stirp is 10 seconds, therefore x6, is rate for 60 seconds
Draw the cardiac axis chart what is the normal adult range
-30 to +90 but this is different from children
What leads do you look at for AXIS
AVF and I
Look at the QRS
What is normal for axis
The QRS should be going up in both leads.- positive
What is right axis deviation?
If leads 1 and AVF are reaching towards eachother i.e down in 1 and up in AVF
suggests RVH
What is left axis deviation- how to test for true
Lead I is positive, lead AVF negative: LA DEVIATION: LEEEEEAVING EACHOTHER
If there is apparent LAD check in lead II
If lead II +ve= normal axis
If lead II-ve= true lad
Suggests LVH
What should you consider with P waves
Amplitude
- Less than 2.5mm tall (<2.5small squares) in the limb leads
- Less than 1.5mm tall (<1.5small squares) in the chest leads
• Duration
- Less than 120ms long (0.12s; <3 small squares) within any lead
Morphology
- Should be upright in leads I, II, AVF and inverted in AVR (i.e sinus)
- Should be bisphasic in V1
Abnormal P Waves: Peaked P waves (P pulmonale) Bifid P wave (P mitrale) Absent P waves Flutter waves Inverted P waves
What is peaked P waves- what does it suggest?
P waves are taller and are pointy (peaked) in appearance.
- Duration unchanged (still <120ms)
Indicates presences of right atrial enlargement/abnormality (aka P pulmonale)
Best seen in lead II
> 2.5 mm tall in lead II (or III/AVF), satisfying criteria of right atrial abnormality (RAA)
> 1.5 mm tall in V1 (or V2), satisfying criteria for right atrial abnormality (RAA)
RAE classically seen with Pulmonary Hypertension
What does bifid P waves suggest
Indicates presences of Left atrial enlargement/abnormality (aka P Mitrale)
Best seen in lead II and V1 – LAA Criteria:
Lead II: Bifid and ≥120ms (Interpeak interval of ≥0.04s)
Lead V1: -Ve deflection of P wave wide (> 0.04 s) and deep (> 1 mm),
LAE classically seen with left sided valvular disease - mitral stenosis but can be benign
What is the PR interval how long is it normally, when it is shortened, when it is prolonged?
Normal value is 0.12-0.2 (3-5 small squares) Can be: Shortened <0.12 s (3 small squares) Normal 0.12-0.2 (3-5 small squares) Prolonged >0.2 s (5 small squares)
What are the 4 things to check on the QRS
QRS - check the width, the amplitude, pathological q waves, R wave progression