Infectious diarrhoea Flashcards
What is the definition of diarrhoea?
Increased fluidity & frequency
What is the definition of gastro-enteritis?
3 or more loose stools/ day
Accompanied with abdominal pain & bloody stools)
What occurs with dysentery?
Large bowel inflammation
Bloody stools
What type of stool is diarrhoea classified as by the bristol stool chart?
Type 7
What are some of the causes of gastro-enteritis?
Contamination of foodstuffs (chicken)
Poor storage of produce
Travel related infections
Person to person spread
What is the commonest bacterial pathogen which causes diarrhoea?
Camplyobacter
What are the most common causes of infectious diarrhoea?
Campylobacter
Salmonella
E.coli o157
What are some of the defences against enteric infections?
Hygiene
Stomach acid
Normal gut flora
Immunity
What effect do antacids have on infection?
More at risk of gastro-enteritis due to loss of protective acid
What effect do ABIs have on infection?
Increase risk of C. diff & diarrhoea
What are the 3 main clinical features of diarrhoea illness?
Non-inflammatory/ secretory
Inflammatory
Mixed
What is a secretory (non-inflammatory) form of diarrhoea illness?
Cholera
What is an inflammatory cause of diarrhoea illness?
Shigella dysentery
What infection demonstrates a mixed picture of diarrhoea disease?
C. diff
What is the mechanism of action of secretory toxin-mediated diarrhoea?
Increases cAMP levels & Cl secretion
Osmotic effect leads to massive water loss
What is the main treatment of secretory diarrhoea?
Rehydration therapy
What are the mechanisms of action of inflammatory diarrhoea disease?
Inflammation & toxin damage leads to mucosal destruction
Pain & fever
In a history, when is it unlikely to be infectious diarrhoea?
> 2 weeks duration
How can you assess hydration of patient with diarrhoeal disease?
Postural BP
Skin turgor
Pulse
What are some of the electrolyte imbalances which can occur in diarrhoea?
Hyponatreamia
Hypokalaemia
What investigations could be done in a patient with diarrhoeal disease?
Stool culture Blood culture Renal function Blood count Abdominal Xray
What are some of the differential diagnosis of diarrhoeal disease?
Inflammatory bowel disease
Spurious diarrhoea (secondary to constipation)
Carcinoma
In what incidence can diarrhoea & fever occur?
Sepsis outside the gut
What are some of the treatment options for gastro-enteritis?
Oral rehydration therapy
IV saline
What is the commonest cause of gastro-enteritis?
Campylobacter
How long is the incubation period of campylobacter gastro-enteritis?
7 days
How long does it take for campylobacter to clear from the gut?
6 weeks