Infectious Diarrhea

Question 1

Leading causes of worldwide infectious disease deaths

Answer 1

1. pneumonia
2. diarrhea

Question 2

Age groups most affected by infectious disease/diarrhea

Answer 2

• young & old
• diarrhea ==> dehydration = leading cause of morbidity and death

Question 3

Types of infectious gastroenteritis (+ relative frequency)

Answer 3

• viral = 30-40%
• bacterial/parasitic = 20-30%
• unknown = 40%

Question 4

Non-inflammatory diarrhea: site, pathogens

Answer 4

• Site: Upper small bowel
• Pathogens:
  
  • Norwalk
  • Rotavirus
  • Giardia
  • Cholera
  • ETEC

Question 5

Inflammatory diarrhea: site, pathogens

Answer 5

• Site: Colon
• Pathogens:
  
  • C. jejuni
  • Shigella
  • Salmonella
  • E. coli O157:H7
  • C. difficile
  • E. histolytica

Question 6

Pathogens ==> watery diarrhea

Answer 6

• primarily agents that lead ==> non-inflammatory diarhhea @ small bowel
• Vibrio cholerae
• Enterotoxigenic E. coli
• Rotavirus
• Norwalk virus
• Giardia lamblia

Question 7

Leading cause of acute bacterial diarrhea

Answer 7

• campylobacter jejuni

Question 8

Pathogens ==> inflammatory diarrhea

Answer 8

• Campylobacter jejuni
• Salmonella sp.
• Shigella sp.
• E. coli 0157:H7
• E. histolytica

Question 9

Leading causes of nosocomial diarrhea

Answer 9

• C. difficile is the leading, and virtually the only, cause of nosocomial infectious diarrhea
• Culturing for other agents in this setting is not indicated
• Most commonly associated with antibiotic use

Question 10

Symptoms w/C. diff infection

Answer 10

• mild diarrhea, watery or bloody
• or may have fever, leukocytosis with severe colitis