Week 7 - clinical microbiology Flashcards
Define viral gastroenteritis.
inflammation of the stomach and intestines caused by virus(es).
What groups are at higher risk of viral gastroenteritis?
Children under 5.
Old age, especially in nursing homes.
Immunocompromised.
Name 5 important viruses that cause gastroenteritis.
Norovirus Sapovirus Rotavirus Adenovirus 40 and 41 Astrovirus
What groups of people are mainly affected by rotavirus/adenovirus/astrovirus?
Mainly children under 2, elderly and immunocompromised.
What groups of people can be affected by norovirus/sapovirus (Calciviridae)?
Can affect all ages and healthy individuals but most serious in young and elderly.
What are the structural features of the norovirus?
Non-enveloped, single stranded RNA virus.
Norovirus is transmitted through a variety of routes. What are these? What is the infectious dose for norovirus?
Person-person (i.e. faeco-oral)
Food borne
Water
Very small infectious dose (10-100 virions).
What are the clinical features of norovirus? What is the incubation period? How long after infection can the virus be shed?
Nausea and vomiting Diarrhoea Abdominal cramps 24-48 hours 3 weeks
What is the treatment for norovirus?
Oral or IV fluids
Antispasmodics
Analgesics
Antipyretics
Can you develop immunity to norovirus? Is there a vaccine?
Antibodies are developed to norovirus but immunity only lasts 6-14 weeks.
No.
What infection control measures should be taken to prevent the spread of norovirus?
Isolation or cohorting. Exclude symptomatic staff for 48 hours until symptom free. Do not move patients Do not admit new patients. Thorough cleaning surroundings Hand hygiene - MUST be soap and water.
What is the structure of the rotavirus?
Non enveloped double stranded RNA virus.
How is rotavirus mainly spread?
Mianly person-to-person i.e. faeco-oral or fomites
What are the symptoms of rotavirus?
Watery diarrhoea
Abdominal pain
Vomiting
Dehydration
What are some of the potential complications of rotavirus?
- severe chronic diarrhoea
- dehydration leading to electrolyte imbalance
- metabolic acidosis
Re-infection of rotavirus is common in children under 5, which infection is normally the most severe?
the 1 st infection
Is there a rotavirus vaccine?
Yes
What is the structure of the adenovirus? Which serotypes cause gastroenteritis? What are the symptoms? Is there a vaccine?
Double stranded DNA.
Adenovirus 40 and 41
Fever and watery diarrhoea
No vaccine
What is the structure of astrovirus?
Single stranded, non enveloped RNA virus.
How is viral gastroenteritis diagnosed?
Viruses detected by PCR which detects DNA or RNA in a vomit or stool sample.
What are the potential complications of septic arthritis?
Loss of cartilage - osteoarthritis in later life
Severe sepsis/septic shock
What are the clinical features of septic arthritis?
Fever Single hot joint Loss of movement Pain Sometimes polyarticular involvement
What are the key investigations for a septic joint?
Blood cultures
Joint aspirate
Bloods - FBC, CRP
Imaging - x-ray
What are some common pathogens that can cause septic arthritis?
MSSA or MRSA
Streptococci (s. pyrogenes, group G strep, pneumococcus)
What is the management for septic arthritis?
2-3 weeks IV antibiotics followed by three weeks oral.
Monitor response by CRP and clinical features.
Name 5 risk factors for developing a septic joint?
Rheumatoid arthritis Diabetes mellitis Obesity Concurrent UTI Steroids Malignancy
What two routes of pathogenic spread can cause prosthetic joint infection (PJI)? Which is more common? Which would normally cause an earlier presentation?
Local spread
Haematogenic spread
Local spread - 60-80% of PJI
Local spread
Why do bacteria grow more easily on a prosthetic surface than on soft tissue?
Avascular surface protects bacteria from circuling immune defences and most antibiotics. Cement can inhibit phagocytosis and lymphocyte/complement function.
What is the clinical presentation of an infected joint?
Pain Infusion Warm joint Fever and systemic symptoms If a prosthetic joint may have: Loosening on x-ray, mechanical dysfunction, discharging sinus.
What are the potential surgical options for a septic joint?
- DAIR to leave the infected joint in
2. Removal of the infected joint in a one stage or two stage revision).
What is the problem with performing a revision of a joint arthroplasty?
Each time a revision is performed the chances of success and cure of infection reduce dramatically and infection becomes harder to suppress making amputation a possibility.
Antibiotics chosen for a septic joint must be able to penetrate bone. Name 5 that could be used.
Ciprofloxacin, rifamficin, tazocin, carbapenems, clindamycin
Define osteomyelitis.
Progressive infection of bone characterised by death of bone and the formation of sequestra.
What are the potential routes of spread in osteomyelitis?
Haematogenous spread or contiguous spread (i.e. from a cellulitic ulcer or trauma)
What is vertebral discitis? What is an important causitive organism?
Infection of a disc space and adjacent vertebral end plates.
Tuberculosis
What are the potential complication of vertebral discitis.
Deformity, cord compression, paraplegia and disability.
What is the difference in incubation time between GI infections caused by bacterial infection of gut or ingestion of bacterial toxins?
Infection - 8-12 hours incubation time pre symptoms
Toxins - much shorter incubation time.
List some of the barriers to GI infection in the mouth, stomach, small intestine and large intestine.
Mouth - lysozyme
Stomach - stomach acid
Small intestine - mucous, bile, secretory IgA, lymphoid tissue, epithelial turnover, normal flora.
Large intestine - epithelial turnover, normal flora.
The lowe GI tract has a very rich microbiome. 99% of the flora is what type of organism?
Anaerobes
Give 2 examples of zoonotic GI infections.
Salmonella carriage in reptiles.
E. Coli 0157 carriage in cattle.
By what route is GI infection transmitted? What 3 F’s are the means which allow this transmission to occur?
Faecal-oral
Food - contamination of food.
Fluids - contamination water of juices.
Fingers - poor hand hygiene after toileting and before food handling or consumption.
What are important things to ask about when taking a history of GI infection?
Vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, constipation, frequency and nature of symptoms, travel history, food history, other infected individuals, speed of onset of illness, blood in stools.