week 6 Gastroenteritis and intra abdominal infections Flashcards
Are the bacteria of the commensal flora aerobic or anerobic?
Obligate anaerobic bacteria–> can’t survive in the presence of oxygen
The faecal flora ahs been estimated to have a metabolic capactiy equal to what organ?
The liver
What are the beneficial effects of commensal flora of the gut?
Metabolism,
Colonisation resistance Antibody induction
What might have a profound effect on the composition of gut flora?
Diet
Early years exposure –> bottle fed vs breast fed babies
What vitamins are secreted by the bacteria in the gut?
Vitamin K and B12
Everyone has different flora compisiton in there gut due to different exposure. What is the affect of bottle fed and breast fed on the gut flora?
Bottle fed –> adult microflora
Breast fed babies –> bifidobacteria
When does colonisation of the gut begin?
You are born sterile and colonisation begins at birth
what is the second leading cuase of death in children under 5 years old?
Diarrohea
What are the common bacterial causes of gastroenteritis? (8)
Salmonella,
- Shigella, - E coli - Campylobacter - Vibrio cholerae - Clostridium difficile - Staph aureus - Bacillus cereus
What parasitic causes of gastroenteritis?
Entamoeba hist.
- Giardia lamblia - Cryptosporidium
What virus causes gastroenteritis?
Norovirus
- Rotavirus
what are the presenting complaints of gastroenteritis?
Acute onset Vomiting and/or Diarrhoea – frequency, mucous, blood Abdominal pain Systemic effects – fever etc.
what complications can you get with gastroenteritis?
Dehydration Renal failure HUS Toxic megacolon GBS Salmonella
What are the investigations for gastroenteritis?
Bloods – FBC, U&E, CRP, blood cultures
Abdominal Xray – if severe
Stool
Looking for markers of infection –> detecting bodies reponses
What is the difficulty of investigating the cause of gastroenteritis?
There is so many different organisms in the gut that it is difficult from differentiating between the good and bad organisms.
What tests are done on stools in the analysis of the cause of gastroenteritis?
Ova, parasites and cysts ‘OCP’
Microscopy, culture and sensitivity ‘MC&;S’
Clostridium difficile toxin ‘CDT’
Viral PCR
What is the most common cause of gut infection?
Norovirus
What type of virus is norovirus?
Either Norwalk-like virus, SRSV (small round structured virus
Winter-vomiting disease
What are the main symptoms of norovirus?
Diarrhoea and projectile vomiting
How long does norovirus infection last and what is the management/treatment?
Illness last for 24-48hrs.
No specific treatment just allow the the infection to run its course –> lots of water to prevent dehydration
What is the advice given for people who have been infected by norovirus?
Stay away from work to prevent spreading the disease to other people, and practice good hygiene and handwashing to prevent spread to others.
What vacine has been introduce for children to prevent norovirus infection?
Rotavirus vacine
How does the norovirus spread?
Aerosols –> vomiting, feacal/oral route –> particules
What type of disease is cryptosporidosis? What does it contaminate?
Waterborne disease
Contaminated drinking water, swimming pools, water features, natural waters, animal and human contact, other routes