Infective Gastroeneteritis Flashcards
What should you ask about in a history for gastroenteritis?
- details of food and water
- cooking method
- time until onset of symptoms
- were fellow diners affected
- ## swimming / canoeing
What are the invx for gastroenteritis?
stool microscopy and culture:
what are the symptoms of gastroenteritis?
- acute diarrhoea (watery)
- can be dysentery (blood and mucous in faeces)
- with or without vomiting
Who is at risk of gastroent?
- travellers to LEDCs
- men who have sex with men
- infants in day care facilities
Give examples of bacterial causes of watery diarrhoea?
1) staph aureus
2) Vibrio Cholerae
3) E.Coli
4) Salmonella
5) Campylobacter jejuni
6) clostridium difficile
7) clostridium perfringens
What bacteria causes both watery diarrhoea and dysentery?
campylobacter
Salmonella
C.diff
What are the bacterial causes of dysentery (blood + mucous + diarrhoea)
- Shigella
- Salmonella
- campylobacter
- E.coli
- C,diff
how long do symptoms of gastroenteritis usually last ?
2 to 6 days
what is the management of gastroenteritis?
- oral fluid and rehydration sachets
Treatment for watery diarrhoea (not dysentery) - anti-emetics
- antidiarrhoeals ( loperamide 4mg)
Antibiotics if systemically unwell.
What antibiotics are given for cholera infection?
tetracycline
What antibiotics are given for salmonella infection?
***remember abx for salmonella may increase the number of chronic carriers.
ciprofloxacin 500mg/12h PO
What antibiotics are given for shigella and campylobacter?
ciprofloxacin 500mg/12h PO
what are the markers of severity for C.diff infection?
1) temp >38.5
2) white cell count >15X10^9
3) serum creatinine >50% above baseline
4) raised serum lactate
5) sever abdo pain
What is the treatment for C.diff?
- metronidazole 400 mg 3X daily (mild to moderate disease)
OR
- oral vancomycin 125-500mg 4X daily (severe cases)
OR
Faecal transplant
