Acute Diarrhoea

Question 1

What are the common pathogens causing acute diarrhoea?

Answer 1

C. difficile
Cytomegalovirus
Campylobacter jejuni
Salmonella
E. coli O157
Shigella
Schistosomiasis

Question 2

What are the management options for acute diarrhoea?

Answer 2

Determine freq/sev
Enquire about red flag sx
Treat underlying cause
Treat dehydration

Question 3

What are the red flag sx in acute diarrhoea?

Answer 3

Blood in stool
Recent hospital/antibiotic treatment
Persistent vomiting
Wt loss
Painless, watery, high-volume diarrhoea
Nocturnal sx

Question 4

What are the risk factors for C. difficile infection?

Answer 4

Antibiotic use
   -fluroquinolones
   -marcolides
   -clindamycin
   -b-lactam/b-lactamase inhibitors
   -cephalosporins
Age
Non-surgical invasive GI procedures
NG tube
ITU residence
Immunocompromise
Long term hospital stay

Question 5

How is C. diff managed?

Answer 5

Prevention is key
Remove causative antibiotic
Avoid antiperistaltic agents
Surgery if colitis