ID (Meningitis / Endocarditis / C. Difficile / TB) Flashcards
Define what “C. Dif-Associated Diarrhea” is.
1) 3 or more unformed stools per day for 2 or more days
2) Detected Toxin A / B or C. difficile bacteria in stool
3) Pseudomembranes in Colon are visualized
What are the clinical manifestations of C. difficile infection?
Fever
Abdom Pain
High WBC Count
Smelly Diarrhea
In what settings is C. difficile most commonly contracted?
Hospitals or Nursing Homes
Through what mechanism does C. difficile spread?
Spores
C. difficile is a ___ _____ (Gram Positive or Gram Negative), _____ (aerobic or anaerobic) bacteria.
Gram Positive, Anaerobic
All ABs are associated with C. difficile infection. However, which ones are considered highest risk?
-Clindamycin
-FQ’s
-Ampicillin
-Carbapenems
-3rd / 4th Gen Cephalosporins
Which ABs are considered lowest risk for C. difficile infection?
-Penicillin
-Macrolides
-Tetracycline
-TMP/SMX
-Aminoglycosides
For how many months post-AB therapy does C. difficile infection risk last?
3mths
What puts someone at risk for C. difficile infection?
-Old
-GI Disorders / Surgery
-Rectal Thermometer Use
-Enteral Tube Feeding
-Antacids (PPI > H2RA)
-Number days in hospital
What percentage of total C. difficile infections are recurrent in nature?
15 - 30%
If a person contracts C. difficile & has co-morbid Meningitis, should we discontinue the offending antibiotic?
NOOOOOOOO SEVERE INFECTION!!! ONLY LESS SEVERE INFECTIONS!
Patient comes to your pharmacy with confirmed C. difficile infection & is complaining about diarrhea. She grabs her antibiotic from you and picks up a package of Loperamide on the way out. What should you tell her before she pays and leaves the store?
No to the Loperamide… Avoid anti-peristaltic drugs (want to clear the infection)!
Lab parameters indicative of severe C. difficile infection would see leukocyte count being elevated above _____ cells / uL &/or a SCr above ___x baseline.
15 000 cells / uL; SCr of > 1.5x baseline
First line AB for C. difficile infection?
Vancomycin 125mg QID x 10-14d
When the cost of Vancomycin or Fidaxomicin is prohibitive to a patient, what can be used 2nd line in cases of C. difficile with minor diarrhea?
Metronidazole 500mg TID x 10-14d
What are the two ABs we use in cases of Severe, Uncomplicated (ie. Hypoalbuminemic) C. difficile infection?
1) Vanco 125mg QID x 10-14d
2) Fidaxomicin 200mg BID x 10d
In cases of Fulminant (ie. Severe, Complicated) C. difficile infection, what ABs can be used?
1) Vanco 125 - 500mg QID x 10-14d
+
Metro 500mg IV q8h
Can use Fidax + Metro IV if severe Vanco allergy!
In cases of Recurrent C. difficile infection, what therapy form saw even greater success rates than ABs?
Fecal Microbiotica Transplantation (FMT)
Which of the following MABs bind to C. difficile-produced Toxin A?
Bevacizumab
Golimumab
Actoxumab
Bezlotoxumab
Rituximab
Actoxumab (A = Toxin A)
Which of the following MABs bind to C. difficile-produced Toxin B?
Golimumab
Bezlotoxumab
Bevacizumab
Rituximab
Actoxumab
Bezlotoxumab (B = Toxin B)
Rates of asymptomatic C. difficile colonization in pediatric patients are high up until ___ years of age.
two
SA is a 6yr old patient with their second recurrence of confirmed C. difficile infection. Her doctor wants to start Vancomycin to treat the recurrent infection. Provide the doctor a suitable pulsatile dosing regimen.
1) 40mg / kg / day (divided QID) x 10-14d
2) Same dose TID x 1wk
3) Same dose BID x 1wk
4) Same dose OD x 1wk
5) Same dose every 2nd or 3rd day x 2-8wks
SA’s doctor phones you back and apologizes, noting that this was actually her first C. difficile recurrence. How might your Vancomycin regimen change? What if SA had an allergy to Vancomycin & needed Metronidazole treatment instead?
Vanco: 40mg / kg / day (divided QID) x 10d… Do not exceed 125mg maximum per dose!
Metro: 30mg / kg / day (divided QID) x 10d… Do not exceed 500mg maximum per dose!
What are some preventative strategies that address C. difficile infection?
-Good hygiene / handwashing
-Deprescribe unnecessary PPIs
-No anti-motility agents
-Avoid unnecessary AB use
-Don’t treat asymptomatic C. difficile
Meningitis infections occur within what brain space?
Subarachnoid Space (beneath the Dura Mater & Arachnoid layers, above the Pia Mater)
What percentage of all Meningitis infections occur in kids?
70% (highest in Neonates with rates around 400 per 100 000)
Cases of Aseptic Meningitis can be caused by what?
-Viral / Fungal Infection
-Atypical Bacteria
-Syphilis / TB / Lyme Dx
-Chem Irritation
-Malignancies
-Drug Induced
What properties make H. influenza, N. meningitidis, & S. pneumoniae good candidates for causing Meningitis?
-Immunoglobulin A Proteases (allows for colonization in nasopharyngeal mucosa)
-Pili (specifically N. meningitidis) allowing for sticky cellular adherence
-Polysaccharide Capsules (inhibits phagocytosis & complements activity in the blood)
Provide risk factors that increase the development of Meningitis.
-Congenital / Traumatic Defects
-Old & Young
-Prev. Viral Infection
-Low SES
-Crowded Occupations / Living Situations
-Pathogenic Exposure
-Immunosuppressed
The two most common pathogens responsible for Meningitis are typically S. pneumoniae & N. meningitidis. However, in newborns less than a month old, what are the most common organisms?
-E. coli
-S. agalactiae
-L. monocytogenes
-Klebsiella
How do the organisms that cause Meningitis infection from surgery or trauma differ from routine organisms?
-Staph
-Gram Negative Bacilli
How come H. influenza rates of Meningitis have dropped substantially over the years?
Vaccination
Classic symptomatic triad seen with Meningitis?
Headache, Fever, Neck Stiffness
What other symptoms aside from the triad are seen in cases of Meningitis?
-Altered Mental Status
-Malaise
-Seizures
-Vomiting
Infants often demonstrate atypical Meningitis presentation (ie. Irritable, Lethargic, Poor Feeding, Fever, Seizures)… What unique Fontanelle feature can sometimes be seen with Meningitis developments?
Bulging Fontanelle (Sunken Fontanelle much more common in other conditions)
Lab samples for the sake of obtaining Gram Stains & Culture / Sensitivity Tests are gathered via what technique?
Lumbar Puncture
What are the acute complications of Bacterial Meningitis?
-Shock
-Resp Failure
-Apnea
-Altered Mental Status
-Increase ICP
-Seizures
Conditions which can be brought upon by Bacterial Meningitis?
-Seizure Disorder
-Impaired Cognition
-Personality Changes
-Gait Disturbances
-Deafness
-Blindness
-Paresis
T or F: The prognosis for Meningitis gets better with age.
FALSE… Gets worse (much worse) as we age.
What is the trend seen with antibiotic penetration of Central Nervous tissues in cases of Meningitis?
Initial: Inflammation increases the penetrative abilities of the AB.
LT: See reduced AB penetrance.
In what cases would extending AB therapy durations for a Meningitis patient be warranted?
-Subdural Abscess
-Delayed CSF Sterilization
-Prolonged Fever
-Persistent Signs & Sx