Gastroenterisitis

Question 1

What does facultative mean?

Answer 1

Can grow in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions

Question 2

Define Montezuma’s revenge?

Answer 2

diarrhoea suffered by travellers, especially visitors to Mexico.

Question 3

How would someone present with gastroenteritis?

Answer 3

acute onset, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever etc.

Question 4

What is the technical term for the winter-vomiting virus?

Answer 4

norovirus

Question 5

How long does the illness of norovirus last?

Answer 5

24-48 hours (no real treatment)

Question 6

How does viral gastroenteritis spread so easily?

Answer 6

AEROSOLS from projectile vomiting

Question 7

How does cryptosporidium infection spread?

Answer 7

water-borne (swimming pools, drinking water etc.)

Question 8

How can cryptosporidium survive in swimming pools?

Answer 8

oocyst resistance to chlorine base disinfectants

Question 9

What are the two main mechanisms by which bacteria cause infection in the GI tract?

Answer 9

enterotoxin production or adherence

Question 10

What does EHEC stand for?

Answer 10

enterohaemorrhagic colitis

Question 11

what is the virulence factor of E. Coli O157?

Answer 11

shiga toxin

Question 12

Why does E. Coli O157 have high mortality?

Answer 12

Virulence factor is SHIGA TOXIN - acts on red blood cells as well as epithelium which can cause anaemia and kidney failure and other problem

Question 13

Does salmonella cause infection via enterotoxin production or by adherence?

Answer 13

adherence (causes the infection itself)

Question 14

When would you give antibiotics in gastroenteritis?

Answer 14

• very old and very young
• campylobacter
• invasion (positive blood cultures)

Question 15

Which antibiotics are high risk for CDI?

Answer 15

cephalosporins and clindamycin

Question 16

What are the common first line treatments for CDI?

Answer 16

oral metronidazole or oral vancomycin