DSA 3: Acute Infectious Diarrhea Flashcards
what are the signs of mild dehydration?
thirst, dry mouth, decreased axillary sweat, decreased urine output, slight weight loss
what are the signs of moderate dehydration?
orthostatc fall in blood pressure, skin tenting, sunken eyes (infants: sunken fontanelle)
what are the signs of severe dehydration?
lethargy, obtundation, feeble pulse, hypotension, frank shock
if pt presents with fever >38.5 degrees, bloody stools, increased fecal WBC’s, immunocomprimised or is an elderly host, should you order stool microbiology studies?
yes
- if no pathogen is found, empirical treatment and further evaluation
- if pathogen found, select specific treatment
what are the indications for further evaluation?
- profuse diarrhea (6+ stools/day)
- hypotension and tachycardia
- dysentery (bloody diarrhea with leukocytes)
- fever >38.5
- last longer than 48 hrs, no improvement
- recent antibiotic use (check for C.Diff)
- severe abdominal pain in pt >50
- elderly pt >70 or immunocomp
what is the work-up for diarrhea?
CBC, electrolytes, BUN, Cr, blood culture
what is the cornerstone of diagnosis for diarrhea?
microbiologic analysis of the stool
what does a routine stool culture include?
- salmonella
- shigella
- E. Coli
- most detect campylobacter (but may need to request)
takes 24-48 hours for results
what stool bacterial cultures need to be asked for specifically?
- Shiga-like toxin detection for 0157:H7 EHEC
- Vibrio species
- Yersinia
- C. Diff
- stool protozoal antigen (Giardia, Cryptosporidium, E. histolytica)
- stool viral PCR antigen (rotovirus, norovirus)
what may be indicated if stool studies are unrevealing?
endoscopy
what can you identify on abdominal CT?
colitis
CT more sensitive than XR for free air
what can you ID on plain abd XR?
ileus or toxic megacolon
what are the common food poisoning pathogens found in chicken?
salmonella, campylobacter, shigella
what are the common food poisoning pathogens found in undercooked hamburger?
enterohemorrhagic E.coli (0157:H7)
what is the most common food poisoning pathogen found in fried rice?
bacillus cereus
what are the common food poisoning pathogens found in potato salad, mayo or cream pastries?
staph aureus
what is the common food poisoning pathogen found in eggs?
salmonella
what is the common food poisoning pathogen found in uncooked foods, lunch meat or soft cheeses?
listeria
what are the common food poisoning pathogens found in seafood?
- Vibrio species (salmonella, acute HepA)
- Norovirus
- Campylobacter
gram positive cocci (grape clusters), preformed enterotoxins
- N/V
- **watery diarrhea
- rapid onset w/in 6hrs of ingestion
- rapid resolution w/in 24-48 hrs
risk factors: potato salad, mayo
Staph aureus
gram positive rod, preformed enterotoxins
- watery diarrhea
- rapid onset w/in 6 hrs
- rapid resolution w/in 24-48 hrs
risk factors: fried rice!
Bacillus cereus
heat resistant gram positive, spore-forming rod
- preformed enterotoxin
- watery diarrhea (**NO fever or vomiting)
- crampy abd pain
- onset w/in 8-16 hrs of ingestion, need to ingest large quantities of org
- rapid resolution w/in 24-48 hrs
risk factors: beef, ham, poultry, legumes, gravy
Clostridium perfringens
gram NEG rod, non-motile
- enterotoxin shiga toxin
- DYSENTERY begins as watery diarrhea -> intense colitis with fever and frequent small-volume stools w/blood and pus
- fever for 3-4 days, typically lasts 7 days
risk factors: potato salad, lettuce, raw veggies
Shigella
GIVE ABX!
what are the dx and tx of shigella?
- dx: (+) fecal leukocytes, (-) lactose on stool culture difficult to distinguish from IBD
- tx: Bismuth, ampicillin, fluoroquinolone, or trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole
what are the post-infectious complications of Shigella?
reactive arthritis, HUS
gram neg, NON-lactose fermenting, MOTILE, rod-shaped
- orgs traverse intestinal epithelium through M cells overlying Peyer’s Patches
- non-typhoidal
- watery -> blood diarrhea
- fever, abd camping, N/V
- lasts 5-10 days, self limiting
risk factors: eggs, poultry, milk, exposure to reptiles (turtles)
- increased risk with immunocompromised/HIV, leukemia and Sickle Cell
Salmonella typhimurium
what is the dx needed for salmonella typhimurium?
stool culture
what are the complications of salmonella typhimurium infection?
septic arthritis, abscess, osteomyelitis
gram NEG rod, anaerobic
- org’s penetrate thru Peyer’s Patches
- can be asymptomatic carriers
- Rose spots rash with fever
- 7-14 days AFTER ingestion
- 2 symptomatic phases separated by asymptomatic phase: febrile (103-104!)
- **pea-soup green-yellow fowl smelling diarrhea -> bloody diarrhea
risk factors: poor sanitation, travel
Salmonella typhi
TYPHOID FEVER
what is the dx and tx of Salmonella typhi?
- dx: stool culture, blood culture, fecal leukocyte (+)
- tx: hand-washing, vaccine, fluoroquinolones (becoming resistant)
gram NEG curved/spiral-shaped rod
- oxidase (+), motile flagellum with “cork-screw” motion
- watery -> bloody diarrhea
- fever, malaise
- crampy abd pain
- erythema nodosum
risk factors: undercooked poultry, dairy, contaminated water
Campylobacter jejuni
what is the dx and tx of campylobacter jejuni?
- dx: fecal leukocyte (+)
- stool culture need Campy blood agar
- tx: supportive, NO abx
what are the complications of campylobacter jejuni infection?
reactive arthritis, Guillan-Barre syndrome
gram NEG bacilli, anaerobic, curved-shaped with flagellum
- toxin production
- N/V/abd cramping
- PROFUSE (1L/hr) watery diarrhea
- mucous with epithelial cells = “rice water”
- lasts 7 days
risk factors: waterborne illness (saltwater), raw seafood (oysters), poor sanitation in underdeveloped nations
Vibrio cholerae
what is the dx and tx of Vibrio cholerae?
- dx: stool microscopy (motile, darting short curved gram neg rods), gram stain of stool specimen
- tx: rehydration/electrolyte replacement
prevention: sanitation, vaccination
gram NEG bacilli, cytotoxin production
- N/V/abd cramps
- watery -> bloody diarrhea (colonic)
- lasts 2-5 days
risk factors: seafood (shellfish, oysters, shrimp)
Vibrio parahemolyticus
what is the dx and tx of Vibrio parahemolyticus?
- dx: fecal leukocyte (+), stool culture (special media needed)
- tx: self-limited