gastroenteritis

Question 1

what is it ?

Answer 1

the inflammation from the stomach to the intestines

Question 2

how does it present ?

Answer 2

nausea
vomiting
diarrhoea

Question 3

is gastroenteritis mainly bacterial or viral ?

Answer 3

viral

Question 4

is gastroenteritis virulent ?

Answer 4

incredibly so,

ie
family members must isolate if a member of the house contracts it

Question 5

what are the 3 most common viruses that cause it ?

Answer 5

rotavirus
norovirus
adenovirus

Question 6

how does e. coli cause ge ?

Answer 6

• it is a normal intestinal bacteria, only certain strains cause gastroenteritis
• it is spread faeco-oral, in unwashed salads or via water

Question 7

what kind of toxin does e. coli produce ?

Answer 7

shiga toxin

Question 8

what does shiga toxin do ?

Answer 8

it destroys blood cells and leads to haemolytic uraemic syndrome, HUS (small blood vessels in your kidneys become damaged and inflamed - leading to thrombosis/embolus )

Question 9

how does e. coli present ?

Answer 9

abdominal cramps
bloody diarrhoea
vomiting

Question 10

why should antibiotics be avoided in tx of e. coli caused ge ?

Answer 10

antibiotics can increase the risk of HUS

Question 11

what is the most common bacterial causing ge ?

Answer 11

campylobacter jejuni

Question 12

is campylobacter gram + or - ?

Answer 12

-

Question 13

how is campylobacter spread ?

Answer 13

raw or improperly cooked poultry

untreated water

unpasteurised milk

Question 14

what are the symptoms of campylobacter infection ?

Answer 14

abdominal cramps
diarrhoea often with blood
vomiting
fever

*incubation period is about 2-5 days and symptoms resolve after 3-6 days

Question 15

what antibiotics can be used to treat campylobacter ?

Answer 15

azithromycin

ciprofloxacin

Question 16

what other bacteria can produce shiga toxin ?

Answer 16

shigella

and so shigella can also cause HUS - so antibiotics should be avoided

Question 17

how is shigella spread ?

Answer 17

faeces containing drinking water, swimming pools and food

Question 18

does shigella ge resolve itself ?

Answer 18

yes, usually within a week without treatment

Question 19

what are the symptoms of shigella ge ?

Answer 19

diarrhoea
abdominal cramps
fever

Question 20

what antibiotics can be used to treat shigella in severe cases ?

Answer 20

azithromycin

ciprofloxacin

Question 21

how is salmonella spread ?

Answer 21

eating raw eggs or poultry and food contaminated with infected faeces of small animals

Question 22

what are the symptoms of salmonella ?

Answer 22

watery diarrhoea with mucus or blood

abdominal pain

vomiting

Question 23

does salmonella resolve on its own ?

Answer 23

yes, within a week

antibiotics only necessary in severe cases

Question 24

is bacillus cereus gram + or - rod ?

Answer 24

gram positive rod

Question 25

how is b. cereus spread ?

Answer 25

via inadequately cooked food, typical food is fried rice left out at room temperature

Question 26

what toxin does bacillus cereus produce while growing on food ?

Answer 26

cereulide

Question 27

symptoms of bacillus cereus ?

Answer 27

abdominal cramps
vomiting
water diarrhoea

all this occurs within 5 - 8 hours after cereulide ingestion and resolves within 24 hours

Question 28

timeline of bacillus cereus symptoms ?

Answer 28

vomiting within 5 hours

diarrhoea within 8 hours

Question 29

what else can bacillus cereus cause ?

Answer 29

IE

Question 30

what is the management of ge ?

Answer 30

-infection control and good hygiene

-