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Gastroenterology (Own) > Microbiology > Flashcards

Microbiology Flashcards

1
Q

Host risk factors for GI infections (5)

A 
Age - young and elderly
Reduced acid secretion
Reduced gut motility
Colonic microflora
Intestinal immunity
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2
Q

What is the definition of diarrhoea?

A

three or more looses stools in a 24 hour period

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3
Q

What is the source or reservoir for an infection?

A

This is the original source of the infection e.g. animal gut

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4
Q

What is the vehicle of the infection?

A

The means by which the infection is transmitted from one person to another

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5
Q

Describe campylobacter

A

Curved gram negative bacillus

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6
Q

What is the incubation period of campylobacter?

A

3-10 days

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7
Q

What is the mechanism of action of campylobacter?

A

Causes inflammation of the colon and rectum (presents as blood diarrhoea) and can invade and get into the blood stream

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8
Q

what is the source of campylobacter?

A

farm animals

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9
Q

What is the vehicle of campylobacter?

A

uncooked poultry, water and unpasteurised milk

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10
Q

What are the symptoms of campylobacter?

A

abdominal pain and diarrhoea with or without blood

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11
Q

What is the treatment for campylobacter?

A

Erythromycin or Ciprofloxacin for 5 days if they develop systemic illness

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12
Q

What is the species name for food poisoning?

A

Salmonella Enterica

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13
Q

What is the incubation period for salmonella?

A

12 - 48 hours

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14
Q

What is the mechanism of action for salmonella?

A

Causes inflammation of ileum and colon, it multiplies in the gut and causes mucosal damage, decreasing fluid absorption and increasing fluid excretion. Can also invade and reach blood stream

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15
Q

What is the source of salmonella?

A

farm animals

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16
Q

What is the vehicle of salmonella?

A

undercooked poultry

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17
Q

what are the symptoms of salmonella?

A

Abdominal pain, diarrhoea, sometimes bloody and vomiting

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18
Q

what is the treatment for salmonella?

A

Ciprofloxacin for 5 days if at risk of systemic illness

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19
Q

What is the incubation period of shigella spp?

A

1 - 9 days

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20
Q

what is the mechanism of action of shigella spp?

A

Invades intestinal mucosa causing severe inflammation, does not invade any further i.e. not in blood. Pus and blood seen in stool

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21
Q

what is the source of shigella spp?

A

humans

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22
Q

What is the vehicle for shigella spp?

A

person to person

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23
Q

what are the symptoms of shigella spp?

A

Abdominal Pain, diarrhoea and occasionally blood

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24
Q

what is the management for shigella spp?

A

Symptomatic treatment – other species, caught abroad, cause a more sever infection, treat with ciprofloxacin

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25
What is the source of action of Escherichia coli (E. Coli)?
Produces a toxin that damages red cells and the kidneys causing haemolytic-uraemic syndrome which increases blood urea, red cell haemolysis and thrombocytopenia
26
what is the source of E. Coli?
normal gut flora of cattle
27
What is the vehicle of E. Coli?
beef - mainly burgers and mince
28
What are the symptoms of E. Coli?
Abdominal pain and bloody diarrhoea
29
What is the management of E. Coli?
symptomatic treatment
30
What are verotoxins?
Bind to receptors found on renal cells, RBC and others in the body. They inhibit protein synthesis and cause cell death
31
How does haemolytic ureamic syndrome present?
abdominal pain, fever, pallor, petechiae (haemorrhages in the skin) and decreased urine production (oliguria)
32
What indications show on a blood test fro HUS?
``` High white cells Low platelets Low HB Red cell Fragments Lactate dehydrogenase increased ```
33
What is typhoid caused by?
salmonella typhi/Salmonella paratyphi A & B
34
How does typhoid initially present?
Initially present as headaches, flu-like symptoms and then diarrhoea three weeks later
35
When does salmonella typhi become typhoid fever?
when it reaches the blood stream
36
what is the incubation period for typhoid fever?
14 - 21 days
37
what is the mechanism of action of typhoid?
Organism invades from the gut lumen, to the lymphatic system and blood stream. It is then in the reticuloendothelial system and call bladder and back to the gut lumen
38
what is the source of typhoid?
Human only
39
What is the vehicle for typhoid fever?
person-person and contaminated water
40
what are the symptoms of typhoid fever?
Fever, rash on abdomen (rose spots) and Diarrhoea
41
what is the management of typhoid fever?
Antibiotics as required – resistance to ciprofloxacin is common
42
what is cholera caused by?
Vibrio Cholerae – a small curved gram negative bacillus
43
what is the incubation period of cholera?
1 - 9 days
44
what is the mechanism of action of cholera?
The organism produces an exotoxin which cause an outpouring of fluid from the small intestine creating sever watery diarrhoea
45
what is the source of cholera?
human only
46
what is the vehicle for cholera?
person-person
47
what are the symptoms of cholera?
water diarrhoea (rice water) causing rapid dehydration
48
what is the management of cholera?
Fluid and electrolyte replacement – no antibiotics
49
Which GI infections are associated with the ingestion of pre-formed toxins?
Staph aureus Clostridium perfringens Bacillus cereus
50
What do the toxins of staph aureus act on?
vagus nerve and vomiting centre
51
what is cryptosporidium?
parasite
52
what is the mechanism of action of cryptosporidium?
Occurs when the cysts are ingested which hatch into the trophozoites in the small intestine and invade cells
53
what is the source of cryptosporidium?
domestic animals
54
what is the vehicle for cryptosporidium?
water supply and swimming pools
55
what are the symptoms of cryptosporidium?
diarrhoea - sever in HIV patients
56
what is the management of cryptosporidium?
symptomatic treatment
57
What is Giardia lamblia?
A protozoal infection - a single celled parasite
58
what is the mechanism of action of Giardia lamblia?
Infection occurs when cysts are ingested which “hatch” into trophozoites that invade the cells of the upper small intestine
59
what is the source of Giardia lamblia?
human only
60
what is the vehicle for Giardia lamblia?
person-person
61
what are the symptoms of Giardia lamblia?
diarrhea, malabsorption syndrome, anorexia, abdominal pain and flatulance
62
what is the management of Giardia lamblia?
Oral metronidazole
63
What is Enterobius vermicularis?
white threadworm which passes in stool
64
what is the mechanism of action of the tapeworm?
ova eggs are ingested and hatch in the intestine. They live in the caecum and colon, adult females come out on the perianal skin at night and lay the ova which cause and itch
65
what is the source of a tapeworm?
human only
66
what is the vehicle for a tapeworm?
person-person
67
what are the symptoms of having a tapeworm?
Perianal itch and worms in stool
68
what is the management of a tapeworm?
Oral mebendazole. Often have to treat all members of family at once
69
What is required when sending a stool sample to microbiology?
one pea sized specimen for each for microscopy, toxin test and culture do not fill the container to the top Give a separate specimen for virology
70
What is the commonest cause of healthcare-associated diarrhoea?
Clostridium difficile - C. Diff
71
What is the source of C. Diff?
Part of the normal gut flora in the elderly and infants
72
What is C. Diff's mechanism of action?
organsim produces 2 toxins - an enterotoxin and a cytotoxin
73
How does infection occur in C. diff?
when antibiotics prescribed kill off normal gut flora allowing c. diff to overgrow and produce spores which are more resistant
74
what are the symptoms of C. Diff?
Diarrhoea, sometimes bloody, abdominal pain. Severe cases may progress to pseudomembranous colitis or bowel perforation
75
what is the management for c. diff?
less severe = oral metronidazole | more severe = oral vancomycin
76
describe c. diff in terms of on a gram stain?
gram positive spore bearing bacilli
77
what is present on the surface of the colon in c. diff?
pseudo-membrane
78
what tests can be done which would suggest c. diff?
Screening for GDH If GDH positive then test for toxin A&B Culture can be done - not routine
79
if the screening test and toxin test for c. diff is positive what does this suggest?
Positive result
80
If the screening test for c. diff is positive but the toxin test is negative, what does this suggest?
indeterminate result - repeat specimen
81
what are the two main viruses which cause diarrhoea?
Rotavirus | Norovirus
82
when will most children contract the rotavirus?
By aged 5
83
How is the rotavirus spread?
person-person either direct or indirect
84
What are the symptoms of the rotavirus?
diarrhoea without blood
85
how is dehydration caused in the rotavirus?
decreased absorption of fluids and an increased secretion in the bowel
86
what complications can occur in children post-infection of rotavirus?
malabsorption causing diarrhoea
87
how is the rotavirus diagnosed?
PCR test on faeces
88
What is the management of the rotavirus?
oral rehydration
89
when is the rotavirus vaccination given and how often?
Twice - once at 2 months old and once at 3 months old
90
why is the rotavirus not given to children older than 24 weeks?
There is an increased risk of intussusception
91
what is intussusception?
One bit of bowel pushes into the other and cuts off the blood supply
92
How is the norovirus spread?
faecal oral/droplet routes person to person
93
what is the norovirus more commonly known as?
winter vomiting bug
94
what are the symptoms of the norovirus?
sudden onset of explosive diarrhoea and vomiting which lasts 2-4 days
95
How is norovirus diagnosed?
faeces specimen or vomit swab for PCR
96
What is the treatment for norovirus?
rehydration - especially in the elderly or very young
97
when are patients at their most infectious?
when vomiting or have diarrhoea
98
other than diarrhoea organisms, which other ones are spread the faecal-oral route?
hepatitis A&E | Resistant bacteria in the GI tract
99
what are the standard infection controls for diarrhoea in hospitals?
patients placed in a single room cohort nursing in bays ward closures Increased ward cleaning
100
what contact precautions are used for the control of diarrhoea in hospital?
``` hand washing - not alcohol gel gloves and apron single use of equipment disinfecting items with hypochlorite report exposure of contamination ```
101
why is hand gel not as effective a soap when dealing with a patient for c. diff?
the spores are resistant to the alcohol hand gel

Gastroenterology (Own) (18 decks)

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