Gastroenteritis

Question 1

most common cause of gastroenteritis?

Answer 1

viral

Question 2

T/F: patients with gastroenteritis must be isolated to avoid spread

Answer 2

true

Question 3

pathogens associated with viral GE?

Answer 3

rotavirus
norovirus
adenovirus (less common, subacute diarrhoea)

Question 4

T/F: E coli is a normal intestinal bacteria

Answer 4

true - only certain strains cause GE

Question 5

E coli 0157

1) produces the ___ toxin
2) causes what symptoms?
3) also destroys blood cells leading to __ __ syndrome
4) T/F: treat with Abx

Answer 5

1) shiga
2) abdo cramps, bloody diarrhoea and vomiting
3) HUS
4) False- increases risk of HUS

Question 6

commonest cause of GE worldwide?

Answer 6

campylobacter jejuni

Question 7

Campylobacter Jejuni

1) spread how?
2) incubation?
3) symptoms?
4) Treatment?

Answer 7

1) raw or undercooked poultry, untreated water, unpasteurised milk
2) 2-5 days (DofE)
3) abdo cramps, diarrhoea (often bloody), vomiting, fever
(resolves after 3-6 days)
4) if severe and culture suggests sensitivity, azithromycin or ciprofloxacin

Question 8

Shigella

1) spread how
2) incubation period?
3) symptoms?
4) can produce the ___ toxin and cause ___ ___ syndrome
5) treatment of severe cases?

Answer 8

1) faeces contaminating drinking water, swimming pools and food
2) 1-2 days
3) bloody diarrhoea, abdominal cramps and fever
4) Shiga, HUS
5) azithromycin or ciprofloxacin

Question 9

Salmonella

1) spread how
2) incubation period?
3) symptoms?
4) T/F: antibiotics are routinely used

Answer 9

1) eating raw eggs or poultry
2) 12h- 3 days
3) watery diarrhoea can be associated with mucous or blood, abdo pain, vomiting
4) False- only in severe guided by stool culture and sensitivities

Question 10

Bacillus Cereus

1) spread how
2) symptoms?
3) resolve how quickly?

Answer 10

1) reheated rice
2) abdo cramps and vomiting within 5 hours, watery diarrhoea in 8
3) 24 hours

Question 11

Staph aureus toxin

What symptoms does this GE cause and why

How quickly does it start/ resolve?

Answer 11

symptoms of diarrhoea, PERFUSE vomiting, abdo cramps and fever within hours of ingestion (enterotoxins cause small intestine inflammation)

Resolves in 12-24 hours

Question 12

Giardia lamblia

1) pathogen type?
2) route of transmission?
3) diagnosis?
4) symptoms?
5) treatment?

Answer 12

1) parasite
2) faecal-oral
3) stool microscopy
4) asymptomatic or chronic diarrrhoea
5) metronidazole

Question 13

Ix in GE?

Answer 13

stool culture, microscopy, senisitivites

Question 14

how long should GE patients stay off school/ work?

Answer 14

48 hours after their symptoms have completely resolved

Question 15

are antidiarrhoeal medications e.g. loperamide and antiemetics indicated in GE?

Answer 15

not generally (may be useful in mild-mod symptoms)

Question 16

antidiarrhoeals should be avoided in what causes of GE?

Answer 16

E coli 0157, shigella, where there is bloody diarrhoea or high fever

Question 17

commonest cause of traveller’s diarrhoea?

Answer 17

E coli

Question 18

🐛 ?

Common amongst travellers
Watery stools
Abdominal cramps and nausea

Answer 18

E coli

Question 19

🐛 ?

Prolonged, non-bloody diarrhoea

Answer 19

Giardiasis

Question 20

🐛 ?

Profuse, rice water diarrhoea
Severe dehydration resulting in weight loss, hypoglycaemia
Not common amongst travellers

Answer 20

cholera

Question 21

🐛 ?

Bloody diarrhoea
Vomiting and abdominal pain

Answer 21

Shigella

Question 22

🐛 ?

Severe vomiting
Short incubation period

Answer 22

Staph aureus

Question 23

🐛 ?

A flu-like prodrome is usually followed by crampy abdominal pains, fever and diarrhoea which may be bloody

Answer 23

Campylobacter jejuni

Question 24

🐛 ?

May mimic appendicitis
Complications include Guillain-Barre syndrome

Answer 24

Campylobacter jejuni

Question 25

🐛 ?

vomiting within 6 hours, stereotypically due to rice

diarrhoeal illness occurring after 6 hours

Answer 25

Bacillus cereus

Question 26

🐛 ?

Gradual onset bloody diarrhoea, abdominal pain and tenderness which may last for several weeks

Answer 26

Amoebiasis

Question 27

🐛 ?

Incubation period
1-6 hrs: 
12-48 hrs: 
48-72 hrs: 
> 7 days:

Answer 27

1-6 hrs: Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus*
12-48 hrs: Salmonella, Escherichia coli
48-72 hrs: Shigella, Campylobacter
> 7 days: Giardiasis, Amoebiasis