Infective Colitis Flashcards
What is Infective Colitis?
Inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract caused by infectious pathogens, leading to injury to the intestinal lining and causing fluid shifts and water loss through diarrhoea and vomit.
What is the most common cause of Infective Colitis?
Viral infection causing dysentery (bloody diarrhoea).
What are common symptoms of Infective Colitis?
- Diarrhoea
- Nausea/Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Flatulence
- Fecal urgency
- +/- fever
What are signs of mild dehydration in a patient with Infective Colitis?
- Mild tachycardia
- Dry skin
- Dry mucous membranes
- Reduced skin turgor
- Reduced capillary refill
What are signs of moderate/severe dehydration in a patient with Infective Colitis?
- Tachycardia
- Tachypnea
- Very dry skin/mucous membranes
- Reduced skin turgor
- Delayed capillary refill
- Sunken eyes
- Decreased urine output
- Fatigue/weakness
- Altered mental status
What is the management for an unstable patient with Infective Colitis?
ABCDE - IV fluid/antibiotics/BP/Obs/Oxygen.
What stool characteristics indicate watery diarrhoea in Infective Colitis?
3+ unformed stools in the past 24 hours.
What is the management for mild dehydration in a patient with watery diarrhoea?
Supportive care + oral rehydration therapy (ORT).
What is the management for moderate/severe dehydration in a patient with watery diarrhoea?
- ** IV fluids
- Empiric antibiotics**
- Bismuth subsalicylate
- Anti-motility agent
When should antibiotics be used in a patient with Infective Colitis?
Only if the patient is severely ill or immunocompromised.
What laboratory test is used to assess hypokalemia and acute kidney injury (AKI) in Infective Colitis?
BMP (Basic Metabolic Panel).
What pathogen is associated with traveler’s diarrhoea?
Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC).
What pathogens cause bacterial Infective Colitis?
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Bacillus cereus
- Enteropathogenic E.coli (EPEC)
- Salmonella enterica
- Clostridioides difficile (C. diff)
What are the characteristics of C. diff infection?
Diffuse, foul smelling, watery/bloody diarrhoea + history of recurrent antibiotic use.
What are examples of viral pathogens that can cause Infective Colitis?
- Norovirus
- Adenovirus
- Enterovirus
What are examples of parasitic pathogens that can cause Infective Colitis?
- Cryptosporidium
- Giardia
What is the initial treatment for bloody diarrhoea in Infective Colitis?
- IV fluids
- Empiric antibiotics (AVOID anti-motility agents)
What are common bacterial pathogens that cause bloody diarrhoea?
- Campylobacter jejuni
- Salmonella enterica
- Clostridioides difficile (C. diff)
- Shigella dysenteriae
- Yersinia enterocolitica
- EIEC & EHEC
What is the key characteristic of EHEC 0157:H7?
Produces shiga-toxin which causes hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) leading to microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and AKI.
What treatment is recommended for Entamoeba histolytica?
Treat with Metronidazole.
Fill in the blank: Watery diarrhoea lasting 10+ days with steatorrhea and weight loss is indicative of _______.
GIARDIA
Fill in the blank: Non-bloody diarrhoea with nausea and travel from Asia/SEA is indicative of _______.
E.coli
Fill in the blank: Bloody diarrhoea is often caused by _______.
Campylobacter jejuni
Fill in the blank: Bloody diarrhoea with recent antibiotic use is indicative of _______.
C.difficile
