Gastroenteritis Flashcards
who is at increased risk for developing gastroenteritis
closed communities eg ward
extremes of age
gastric acid suppression eg PPI
immunocompromised individuals
what is dysentry
inflammation of the intestine usually the colon causing bloody, mucus diarrhoea
what is gastroenteritis
infection of the GI tract usually stomach and SI
causes reduces absorption of water and nutrients
what organisms causing gastroenteritis have preformed toxins
E. Coli
C. Diff
staph aureus
bacillus cereus
what organisms have a short incubation time
staph aureus
bacillus cereus
(1-6 hours)
what organisms have a medium incubation time
salmonella
C Perfringes
(12-48 hours)
what organisms have a long incubation time
campylobacter
E. Coli 0157
which organisms is most likely to cause gastroenteritis and can it spread from person to person
campylobacter and no
found in raw poultry
what is a severe complication of campylobacter infection
Guillan Barre syndrome
what organisms can cause oubreaks of food poisoning
salmonella
E. Coli
what are the classical symptoms of gastroenteritis
acute onset of diarrhoea and vomiting
diarrhoea may be bloody
fever
abdominal pain
salmonella can be typed into serogroups and the body produces different antigens accordingly true/false
true
what does E. Coli produce and what is its effect on the body
produces verotoxin which kills renal cells
what is a complication of E. Coli infection and who is likely to develop it
haemolytic uraemic syndrome
young children
how does haemolytic uraemic syndrome present
abdo pain
fever
pallor
can present after diarrhoea has stopped, destroys platelets and can lead to kidney failure
when is C Diff infection likely to occur
health care setting when someone is on antibiotics that wipe out normal gut flora
what type of bacteria is C Diff
gram +ve anaerobic bacillus
what toxins does C Diff produce
toxin A (enterotoxin) toxin B (cyotoxin)
what are symptoms of C Diff
extreme diarrhoea with specific smell
what are the clinical signs of extreme C Diff infection
pseudomembranous colitis
white cell count >15
high creatinine
what is the treatment for mild and severe C Diff
mild - oral metronidazole
severe - oral vancomycin and IV metronidazole
what two viruses commonly cause viral gastroenteritis
rotavirus
norovirus
who commonly gets rotavirus and how is it spread
children <3 years old
faceal-oral route
who commonly gets norovirus and how is it spread
closed communities eg cruise ship
facecal-oral or droplets
what is the treatment for viral gastroenteritis
supportive - fluids and electrolyte rebalance
what are the investigations for gastroenteritis
stool microscopy
stool culture
stool toxin
stool PCR
when is stool microscopy carried out
suspected parasite or protozoan infection
when is stool culture carried out
salmonella, shigella, campylobacter
what is stool toxin carried out
C Diff
E Coli 0157
when is stool PCR carried out
viral infection
what is the most common cause of acute travellers diarrhoea
E. Coli 0157
what criteria must be met to diagnose acute travellers diarrheoa
3 or more loose stools within 24 hours after returning from foreign place
parasitic infections are associated with increase in which white blood cell
eosinophils
a protozoan infection such as amoeba is treated with what
metronidazole
what is the main treatment for gastroenteritis
supportive therapy such as oral or IV rehydration
anti-spasmodics or anti-motility drugs
