Infectious Diarrhoea Flashcards
How is Gastro-enteritis defined?
3+ loose stools/day
Accompanying features
How is Dysentery defined?
Large bowel inflammation
Bloody stools
How is gastro-enteritis spread?
Contaminated foodstuffs
Poor food storage
Travel-related infections
Person-person spread
What gastro-enteritis bacteria is associated with contaminated foodstuffs?
Campylobacter
Which foodstuff is most commonly associated with food poisoning?
Poultry
What are the defences against enteric infections?
Hygiene
Stomach acidity
Normal gut flora
Immunity
What are the clinical features of diarrhoeal illness?
Inflammatory/non-inflammatory
Mixed
What are the clinical features of non-inflammatory diarrhoeal illness?
- Secretory Toxin-mediated
- Frequent watery stooles with little abdo pain
- Rehydration mainstay of therapy
What toxins are involved in non-inflammatory diarrhoeal illness?
Cholera - ↑cAMP and C1 secretion
Enterotoxigenic E. coli
What is the mechanism of diarrhoea in cholera?
↑cAMP = loss of Cl, Na and K
Osmotic effect leads to massive water loss
What are the clinical features of inflammatory diarrhoeal illness?
Pain and fever - inflammatroy toxin damage and mucosal destruction
Bacterial infection/amoebic dysentery
Antimicrobials may be appropriate
Rehydration often sufficient
What must be assessed in a patient with gastroenteritis?
Symptoms and duration
Risk of food poisoning (Diet, contact, travel)
Assess hydration
Assess for inflammation (SIRS)
How is hydration assessed?
Postural BP Skin turgor Pulse Dry mouth Sunken eyes/cheeks/fontanelle Few/no tears
How severe can fluid loss be in gastroenteritis?
1-7L/day
80-100mmol Na+
Hyponatremia
Hypokalemia
How should a gastroenteritis patient be investigated?
Stool culture Blood culture Renal function Blood count - neutrophilia, haemolysis Abdominal X-ray/CT
Haemolysis and gastroenteritis is associated with what?
E. coli O157
What is the DDx of gastroenteritis?
Inflammatory Bowel disease
Spurious/Overflow diarrhoea
Carcinoma
Sepsis
Diarrhoea and fever due to sepsis would likely present how?
Lack of abdominal pain/tenderness
No blood/mucus in stool
How is gastroenteritis diagnosed?
Rehydration therapy - salt/sugar
What post-infection sequelae are associated with Campylobacter gastroenteritis?
Guillain-Barre
Reactive arthritis
Why is dietery history unreliable in Campylobacter gastroenteritis?
Up to 7 days incubation
What tests can be used in stool testing?
Molecular detection
Antigen detection
What species are most common in Campylobacter gastroenteritis?
C. jejuni (90%)
C. coli (9%(
What is the most common source of Campylobacter gastroenteritis?
Chicken
Contaminated milk
Puppies
How does Salmonella gastroenteritis present?
Symptoms <48hrs
Diarrhoea <10 days
<5% +ve blood cultures
Positive stools up to 20 weeks
Prolonged Salmonella carriage is associated with what?
Gallstones
What post-infection sequelae is associated with Salmonella gastroenteritis?
Post-infectious irritable bowel