gastroenteritis Flashcards
what is it ?
the inflammation from the stomach to the intestines
how does it present ?
nausea
vomiting
diarrhoea
is gastroenteritis mainly bacterial or viral ?
viral
is gastroenteritis virulent ?
incredibly so,
ie
family members must isolate if a member of the house contracts it
what are the 3 most common viruses that cause it ?
rotavirus
norovirus
adenovirus
how does e. coli cause ge ?
- it is a normal intestinal bacteria, only certain strains cause gastroenteritis
- it is spread faeco-oral, in unwashed salads or via water
what kind of toxin does e. coli produce ?
shiga toxin
what does shiga toxin do ?
it destroys blood cells and leads to haemolytic uraemic syndrome, HUS (small blood vessels in your kidneys become damaged and inflamed - leading to thrombosis/embolus )
how does e. coli present ?
abdominal cramps
bloody diarrhoea
vomiting
why should antibiotics be avoided in tx of e. coli caused ge ?
antibiotics can increase the risk of HUS
what is the most common bacterial causing ge ?
campylobacter jejuni
is campylobacter gram + or - ?
-
how is campylobacter spread ?
raw or improperly cooked poultry
untreated water
unpasteurised milk
what are the symptoms of campylobacter infection ?
abdominal cramps
diarrhoea often with blood
vomiting
fever
*incubation period is about 2-5 days and symptoms resolve after 3-6 days
what antibiotics can be used to treat campylobacter ?
azithromycin
ciprofloxacin
what other bacteria can produce shiga toxin ?
shigella
and so shigella can also cause HUS - so antibiotics should be avoided
how is shigella spread ?
faeces containing drinking water, swimming pools and food
does shigella ge resolve itself ?
yes, usually within a week without treatment
what are the symptoms of shigella ge ?
diarrhoea
abdominal cramps
fever
what antibiotics can be used to treat shigella in severe cases ?
azithromycin
ciprofloxacin
how is salmonella spread ?
eating raw eggs or poultry and food contaminated with infected faeces of small animals
what are the symptoms of salmonella ?
watery diarrhoea with mucus or blood
abdominal pain
vomiting
does salmonella resolve on its own ?
yes, within a week
antibiotics only necessary in severe cases
is bacillus cereus gram + or - rod ?
gram positive rod
how is b. cereus spread ?
via inadequately cooked food, typical food is fried rice left out at room temperature
what toxin does bacillus cereus produce while growing on food ?
cereulide
symptoms of bacillus cereus ?
abdominal cramps
vomiting
water diarrhoea
all this occurs within 5 - 8 hours after cereulide ingestion and resolves within 24 hours
timeline of bacillus cereus symptoms ?
vomiting within 5 hours
diarrhoea within 8 hours
what else can bacillus cereus cause ?
IE
what is the management of ge ?
-infection control and good hygiene
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