GI- infections Flashcards
Trypanasoma cruzi- spread
South America; reduviid (kissing bug) via feces in bite
Trypanasoma cruzi- presentation
Chagas disease: megacolon, dilated cardiomyopathy, and megaesophagus
Trypanasoma cruzi- diagnosis
Blood smear (acute), serology (chronic), heart biopsy (rare)
Trypanasoma cruzi- treatment
Nifurtimox
Giardia lamblia- spread
Water contaminated with cysts, fecal-oral route. “camping, hiking.”
Giardia lamblia- presentation
Affects small intestine. Bloating, flatulence, foul-smelling steatorrhea (or watery diarrhea)
Giardia lamblia- diagnosis
stool O&P (cysts), ELISA stool antigen test (usually required before stool O&P)
Giardia lamblia- treatment
Metronidazole. Furazolidone may be used in children.
Entamoeba histolytica- spread
Water contaminated with cysts, anal-oral route. “men who have sex with men.”
Entamoeba histolytica- presentation
Affects colon. Bloody diarrhea, “flask-shaped” intestinal ulcerations, liver abscess (usually right lobe; pus smells like “anchovy paste”), right upper quadrant pain, hepatomegaly
Entamoeba histolytica- diagnosis
Stool O&P (trophozoites with endocytosed RBCs), ELISA stool/serum antigen tests. Serology should only be used in cases of suspected invasion.
Entamoeba histolytica- treatment
Metronidazole and luminal agents (paramomycin, iodoquinol)
Cryptosporidium- spread
Oocysts (containing 4 motile sporozoites) released in water. Fecal-oral route. “campers, swimmers, etc.” Common in HIV/AIDS.
Cryptosporidium- presentation
Targets small intestine. Severe diarrhea in AIDS/immunocompromised patients. Mild watery diarrhea in immunocompetent patients. Sporozoites attach to intestinal wall- usually the small intestine but can also cause colitis.
Cryptosporidium- diagnosis
Acid-fast staining in stool, antigen test, demonstration in tissue
Cryptosporidium- treatment
Nitazoxanide (immunocompetent only), spiramycin (a macrolide; not FDA-approved)
Staphylococcus aureus- morphology
Gram positive cocci in clusters, catylase positive, aerobic
Bacillus cereus- morphology
Gram positive rods, spore-forming, aerobe
Fried rice syndrome species
Bacillus cereus
Clostridium perfringens- morphology
Gram positive rods, spore-forming, anaerobic
Staphylococcus aureus- vomiting mechanism
Enterotoxin is a superantigen. Cytokine release stimulates serotonin production, causing emesis.
Staphylococcus aureus- common food and incubation period
Mayonnaise, 3-12 hours
Bacillus cereus- vomiting mechanism
Cerulide toxin stimulates serotonin receptor directly
Fried rice syndrome- time of onset
1-6 hours