GI infections

Question 1

5 common causes of causes of food and travel infections?

Answer 1

food: Commonest Campylobacter, Salmonella, E. coli
travel: Commonest E. coli, other causes Salmonella, Shigella, Vibrio cholerae and Campylobacter

Question 2

why can antibiotics cause a C. Difficile infection?

Answer 2

Antibiotics can knock out good bacteria. Explain clostridium difficile infections in hospitals, where antibiotic use knocks out the native population, so C. Difficile can thrive

Question 3

What are the GI tracts defense mechanisms?

Answer 3

Stomach acid
Digestive enzymes
Mucosal lining and mucin
Continuous movement

immune system: Secreted IgA
Peyer’s patches

Question 4

Which infections are self-limiting, and which one requires supportive therapy?

Answer 4

self-limiting: campylobacter, samonella-gastroenteritis, toxin-mediated food poisoning,

supportive therapy: viral gastroenteritis, e.coli, shigella, parasites

Question 5

what is one problem of using alcohol gel?

Answer 5

doesn’t kill c.diff spores

Question 6

how do you diagnose C. Difficile, and how do you treat?

Answer 6

stool samples, colonised w c.diff by PCR and ELISA to see toxins

metronidazole - mild
vancomycin - mod/severe

Question 7

How do you diagnose H. Pylori? How do you treat it?

Answer 7

urease breath test
endoscopy and gastric biopsy
serology (aa testing)

2 antibiotics and PPI