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Infectious Diarrhea
Flashcards for causes and treatment for infectious diarrhea
41
Medical
Professional
02/10/2012

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Cards

Term
What is the most important treatment for diarrhea?
Definition
Rehydration solution
Term
Why is soda, gatorade, broth, or juice not recommended for rehydration?
Definition
It's too osmolar. You end up getting more fluid in the lower GI, which causes more diarrhea.
Term
When are antimobility agents contraindicated
Definition
When the diarrhea is bloody, lasts more than 48 hours, or is accompanied by a fever
Term
What is the most common agent for infectious diarrhea?
Definition
C Diff
Term
What is required to get C Diff infection?
Definition
You must be colonized by C Diff and take antibiotics in sufficient amount as to alter the normal intestinal flora.
Term
What antibiotics are most associated with C Diff?
Definition
Clindamycin (most)
Pennicillins
Cephalosporins
Fluoroquinolones
Term
What common OTC drug class can increase risk of C Diff infection?
Definition
H2 Antagonists and PPIs
Term
What does Toxin A do?
Definition
It attracts neutrophils and monocytes, produces enterotoxin, and causes inflammation and fluid buildup
Think A = attraction
Term
What does toxin B do?
Definition
It degrades colonic epithelial cells.
Think B = beast
Term
What is used to diagnose C diff?
Definition
Toxin in fecal sample or endoscopy?
Term
When should you suspect C Diff?
Definition
When a patient has diarrhea shortly after a course of antibiotics.
Term
What are the first line treatments for C Diff?
Definition
Nonsevere: Metronidazole 500mg PO TID 10-14 days

Severe: Vancomycin 125 mg PO QID x 10-14 days
Term
What is considered a severe C Diff infection?
Definition
Elevated white count AND a change in serum creatinine.
Term
How do you treat C Diff recurrence?
Definition
First time: Treat it the same way.
Second time: use Vancomycin
Term
If you can't go PO, what can you do to treat C Diff?
Definition
You can use metronidazole IV, or you can use a vanc enema. You can NOT use Vanc IV.
Term
What are 4 alternative treatments for C Diff?
Definition
Fidaxomycin
Rifaxamin (usually added as a chaser to prevent recurrence)
Nitazoxazole (used when patients can't tolerate vanc and flagyl)
Stool transfer
Term
What are two adjunctive treatments for C Diff?
Definition
Anion exchange resins (Cholestryamine or Colestipol)

Probiotics
Term
What are five features that are important about Vibrio Cholerae?
Definition
Illness caused by enterotoxin
50% asymptomatic
Death can occur in 24 hours
Seen in travelers drinking contaminated water
Diarrhea has the electrolyte concentrations similar to plasma
Term
What two types of treatment should you give cholera patients?
Definition
Rice-based oral replacement of fluids

Lactated ringers
Term
What are the three treatments for cholera?
Definition
Doxycycline 300mg (single dose)
Tetracycline 12.5 mg/kg QID x 3 days
Peds: erythromycin liquid 12.5 mg/kg QID x 3 days
Term
What form(s) of E coli do we worry about?
Definition
Entertoxigenic E coli (ETEC)
Enterohemorrhagic E coli (EHEC)
Term
What is the most common cause of traveler's diarrhea?
Definition
E coli
Term
Is ETEC usually associated with bloody stool or pus?
Definition
No. It usually resolves within 24-48 hours and only needs fluid or electrolyte replacement.
Term
What are the antibiotics of choice for ETEC?
Definition
Fluoroquinolones
Term
What separates ETEC from EHEC?
Definition
EHEC produces shiga-like toxins.
Term
Is EHEC commonly seen with bloody stool or pus?
Definition
Yes. It also comes with nausea and vomiting.
Term
What's the general presentation of Shigellosis?
Definition
Frequent watery stools
Fever --> decreased fever, but severe abdominal pain --> bloody diarrhea
Term
What's one really weird fact that distinguishes Shigellosis?
Definition
Diarrhea is often green and contains leukocytes.
Term
How do you treat Shigellosis?
Definition
Usually? You don't. You only treat the elderly, immunocompromised, children in daycare, malnourished children, and healthcare workers.

Treatment:
US: Bactrim
Outside US: FQs or Azith
Term
Which pets cause salmonellosis?
Definition
Reptiles. LIke my pet turtles!
Term
How big must the inoculum be for salmonellosis?
Definition
At least 1000 organisms. About the amount found in two drops of chicken juice.
Term
How do you treat Salmonellosis?
Definition
You don't. You only do it if they are under 6 months old, immunocompromised, severely symtomatic WITH fever AND bloody diarrhea, or pateitns after a splenectomy.

If you treat it, go with FQs or 3rd gen ceph

If it's bacteremia, you double up. Ceftriaxone + Cipro.
Term
What's the treatment for chronic carriers of salmonella?
Definition
Norfoxacin 400mg BID x 28 days
Term
Does campylobacter present with bloody stools?
Definition
Yup. Bloody, foul smelling stools. They are loose to watery.
Term
You got campylobacter! How soon should you get to the doc?
Definition
If you don't start abx within 4 days, they won't help
Term
Who do you treat for camplobacter?
Definition
high fever, severe bloody diarrhea, and illness that lasts over a week.
Or pregnant. Or immunocompromised
Term
How do you treat Camplobacter?
Definition
Usually? You don't. If you do, give macrolides.
Term
How do you treat Yersiniosis?
Definition
FQs +/- 3rd gen ceph or AGs.
Term
You just got norovirus! What were you probably doing?
Definition
Cruising. VERY common on cruise ships.
Term
How's the best way to prevent traveler's diarrhea?
Definition
Cook your food.
Term
What's the REALLY dumb, yet common mistake travelers make that lands them with diarrhea?
Definition
They use bottled water, and then they put ice in it. >_<
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