GI Labs

Question 1

Stool tests?

Answer 1

Culture, fecal leukocytes, ova & parasites, C. diff toxins, Hemoccult test (Guiaic)

Question 2

Infectious pathogens in routine stool culture?

Answer 2

Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter

Question 3

Other infectious pathogens that can be tested for with stool cultures?

Answer 3

Giardia, Cryptosporidium, E. coli, Vibrio, Aeromonas, Yersinia, Listeria

Question 4

What pathogen is one of the leading causes of food poisoning?

Answer 4

Salmonella

Question 5

Sources of Salmonella (non-typhoidal)?

Answer 5

Poultry, eggs, milk products, fresh produce, meats, contact w/ pets and animals (reptiles!)

Question 6

Incubation time for Salmonella?

Answer 6

8-27 hours after exposure

Question 7

Symptoms of Salmonella infection?

Answer 7

Mild or asymptomatic
*Amount of bacteria correlates w/ disease severity

Question 8

Cardinal features of Salmonella infection?

Answer 8

Pea soup diarrhea (non-bloody), N/V, fever, cramps, constitutional sx (fatigue, malaise, chills)

Question 9

Treatment of Salmonella infection?

Answer 9

Usually self limited (2-10 days)

Question 10

Sources of Campylobacter?

Answer 10

Poultry, water-borne outbreaks, direct contact w/ animals, animal products

Question 11

Incubation period of Campylobacter?

Answer 11

3 days

Question 12

Symptoms of Campylobacter infection?

Answer 12

Abrupt onset: cramps (can be in RLQ - pseudoappendicitis), nausea, diarrhea, >10 BM a day (15% bloody), some w/ colitis

*1/3 pts will have prodrome: fever, rigors, aches, dizziness

Question 13

Treatment of Campylobacter infection?

Answer 13

Usually self-limited (7 days)

Question 14

Sources of Shigella?

Answer 14

Common worldwide esp. in developing countries

Question 15

How does Shigella survive stomach transit?

Answer 15

Less susceptible to acid –> lower amount needed for infection (10-100 organisms)

Question 16

Incubation period of Shigella?

Answer 16

3 days

Question 17

Symptoms of Shigella infection?

Answer 17

Fever, cramps, bloody/mucoid diarrhea, 8-10 BM a day w/ small volume

Question 18

Treatment of Shigella?

Answer 18

Self limiting in healthy individuals (usually resolves in 7 days when untreated)

Question 19

Most strains of pathogenic E. coli cause what symptom?

Answer 19

Watery, non-bloody diarrhea

Question 20

What kind of diarrhea with Shiga-toxin producing strains of E. coli (esp. O157:H7)?

Answer 20

Bloody diarrhea (may be assoc. w/ hemolytic uremic syndrome)

Question 21

Enteroenvasive E. coli is related to which organism?

Answer 21

Shigella

Question 22

Enteroenvasive E. coli causes what symptoms?

Answer 22

Colitis, can have bloody stool