PP6 ACUTE INFECTIOUS DIARRHEA| TOP SCORES MADE
SIMPLE | TRUSTED TEST SOLUTIONS!
most frequent cause of acute viral gastroenteritis Answer: Norovirus
Norovirus Answer: Transmitted via vomitus or aerosolized; typically, from food handler
via food and shellfish
Large outbreaks of diarrhea on cruise ships
Symptoms: nausea/vomiting, watery diarrhea
Usually presents within 24-48 hours, lasts 48-72 hours with rapid and complete
recovery
another acute viral gastroenteritis pathogen Answer: Rotavirus
rotavirus Answer: Incubation time around 10-72 hours
Transmitted from food or water contaminated by feces
Symptoms of watery diarrhea
Can be seen in outbreaks at daycare centers, common in children and
immunocompromised adults
Vaccine now available (two options, both starting at 2 months of age) and less reported
daycare outbreaks with routine infant vaccination
acute bacterial diarrhea most caused by Answer: from acute foodborne illnesses are
most caused by E. coli, Campylobacter, Salmonella (and likely Clostridium perfringens)
most common pathogens found in patients with bloody diarrhea Answer: Shigella,
Campylobacter, Salmonella, and E. coli O157:H7
campylobacter jejuni Answer: Inhabits the intestinal tracts of a wide range of animal
hosts, notably poultry
Transmission usually occurs through infected animals and consumption of improperly
cooked or contaminated animal food products - poultry is commonly contaminated food
Can also be transmitted via waterborne outbreaks and direct contact with sick animals
Incubation period is around 1-7 days (mean = 3 days)
campylobacter jejuni - clinical presentation Answer: May have prodrome of fever,
rigors, dizziness, even delirium
1
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,Early symptoms include abrupt onset of abdominal pain and diarrhea
Abdominal pain: cramping, periumbilical abdominal pain which tends to be more several
than most other bacterial diarrhea
campylobacter jejuni - diarrhea Answer: Ten or more bowel movements per day
Acute mucosal inflammation of both small and large bowel with edema and crypt
formation - leads to bloody, mucoid diarrhea
Bloody stools are more common in children than adults
Diarrhea is self-limited and lasts for a mean of 7 days
campylobacter jejuni - clinical manifestations mimic other diseases Answer:
"pseudoappendicitis", and colitis, etc.
2 major late-onset complications of Campylobacter infection: Answer: Reactive arthritis
Guillain-Barré syndrome
campylobacter jejuni dx Answer: Can be diagnosed with PCR and confirmed by stool
culture
campylobacter jejuni tx Answer: Usually a mild, self-limited infection – supportive care
with proper hydration and correction of electrolyte imbalance
Antibiotics are not needed for most cases
Patients with severe disease or risk for severe disease
- Preferred: azithromycin 500 mg orally daily x 3 days
- Alternatives: levofloxacin 750 mg orally daily x 3 days or ciprofloxacin 750 mg orally
twice daily x 3 days
clostridium perfringens description Answer: Thought to be one of the common causes
of foodborne bacterial infection in the United States
Not reported often as a cause of outbreaks as symptoms are relatively mild and testing
is not routinely performed in these patients
Spores can survive normal cooking temperatures and can proliferate in foods that are
not stored properly – disease cause by release of enterotoxin in GI tract
Seen with meats that are not heated well or reheated well enough, poultry or gravy
Clostridium perfringens – Clinical Presentation Answer: Incubation period is around 6
to 24 hours (typically 10-12 hours)
2
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, Symptoms usually resolve within 24 to 48 hours
Symptoms include watery diarrhea +/- stomach cramping
Clostridium perfringens Dx Answer: Not usually done
Can be diagnosed with PCR +/- stool culture
Clostridium perfringens tx Answer: Usually a mild, self-limited infection - supportive
care with proper hydration and correction of electrolyte imbalance
Antibiotic treatment not usually necessary
Salmonella description Answer: Gram-negative rod
Causes two broad categories of disease: typhoid fever and gastroenteritis
Non-typhoidal Salmonella gastroenteritis typically occurs within 8-72 hours following
exposure
Source is usually improperly handled food (especially eggs, poultry, milk products)
contaminated by fecal matter; fecal-oral from other humans or pets (reptiles – lizards,
snakes, turtles, iguanas)
Salmonella – Clinical Presentation Answer: Diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and abdominal
cramping
Diarrhea may contain mucus and may be blood-tinged
Fever generally resolves within 48-72 hours, and diarrhea within 4-10 days
salmonella dx Answer: PCR if suspected and confirmed diagnosis is made by stool
culture if needed
salmonella tx Answer: Usually self-limited, requires replacement of fluids and
electrolytes
Antibiotics (fluroquinolones) indicated in specific populations:
Individuals with severe illness (severe diarrhea, high or persistent fever, need for
hospitalization)
Infants <12 months and adults >50 years
Poorly controlled HIV-infected or otherwise immunocompromised patients
Individuals with cardiac, valvular, endovascular abnormalities or substantial joint
disease
Shigella description Answer: Gram-negative rod
3
APPHIA - Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence.
SIMPLE | TRUSTED TEST SOLUTIONS!
most frequent cause of acute viral gastroenteritis Answer: Norovirus
Norovirus Answer: Transmitted via vomitus or aerosolized; typically, from food handler
via food and shellfish
Large outbreaks of diarrhea on cruise ships
Symptoms: nausea/vomiting, watery diarrhea
Usually presents within 24-48 hours, lasts 48-72 hours with rapid and complete
recovery
another acute viral gastroenteritis pathogen Answer: Rotavirus
rotavirus Answer: Incubation time around 10-72 hours
Transmitted from food or water contaminated by feces
Symptoms of watery diarrhea
Can be seen in outbreaks at daycare centers, common in children and
immunocompromised adults
Vaccine now available (two options, both starting at 2 months of age) and less reported
daycare outbreaks with routine infant vaccination
acute bacterial diarrhea most caused by Answer: from acute foodborne illnesses are
most caused by E. coli, Campylobacter, Salmonella (and likely Clostridium perfringens)
most common pathogens found in patients with bloody diarrhea Answer: Shigella,
Campylobacter, Salmonella, and E. coli O157:H7
campylobacter jejuni Answer: Inhabits the intestinal tracts of a wide range of animal
hosts, notably poultry
Transmission usually occurs through infected animals and consumption of improperly
cooked or contaminated animal food products - poultry is commonly contaminated food
Can also be transmitted via waterborne outbreaks and direct contact with sick animals
Incubation period is around 1-7 days (mean = 3 days)
campylobacter jejuni - clinical presentation Answer: May have prodrome of fever,
rigors, dizziness, even delirium
1
APPHIA - Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence.
,Early symptoms include abrupt onset of abdominal pain and diarrhea
Abdominal pain: cramping, periumbilical abdominal pain which tends to be more several
than most other bacterial diarrhea
campylobacter jejuni - diarrhea Answer: Ten or more bowel movements per day
Acute mucosal inflammation of both small and large bowel with edema and crypt
formation - leads to bloody, mucoid diarrhea
Bloody stools are more common in children than adults
Diarrhea is self-limited and lasts for a mean of 7 days
campylobacter jejuni - clinical manifestations mimic other diseases Answer:
"pseudoappendicitis", and colitis, etc.
2 major late-onset complications of Campylobacter infection: Answer: Reactive arthritis
Guillain-Barré syndrome
campylobacter jejuni dx Answer: Can be diagnosed with PCR and confirmed by stool
culture
campylobacter jejuni tx Answer: Usually a mild, self-limited infection – supportive care
with proper hydration and correction of electrolyte imbalance
Antibiotics are not needed for most cases
Patients with severe disease or risk for severe disease
- Preferred: azithromycin 500 mg orally daily x 3 days
- Alternatives: levofloxacin 750 mg orally daily x 3 days or ciprofloxacin 750 mg orally
twice daily x 3 days
clostridium perfringens description Answer: Thought to be one of the common causes
of foodborne bacterial infection in the United States
Not reported often as a cause of outbreaks as symptoms are relatively mild and testing
is not routinely performed in these patients
Spores can survive normal cooking temperatures and can proliferate in foods that are
not stored properly – disease cause by release of enterotoxin in GI tract
Seen with meats that are not heated well or reheated well enough, poultry or gravy
Clostridium perfringens – Clinical Presentation Answer: Incubation period is around 6
to 24 hours (typically 10-12 hours)
2
APPHIA - Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence.
, Symptoms usually resolve within 24 to 48 hours
Symptoms include watery diarrhea +/- stomach cramping
Clostridium perfringens Dx Answer: Not usually done
Can be diagnosed with PCR +/- stool culture
Clostridium perfringens tx Answer: Usually a mild, self-limited infection - supportive
care with proper hydration and correction of electrolyte imbalance
Antibiotic treatment not usually necessary
Salmonella description Answer: Gram-negative rod
Causes two broad categories of disease: typhoid fever and gastroenteritis
Non-typhoidal Salmonella gastroenteritis typically occurs within 8-72 hours following
exposure
Source is usually improperly handled food (especially eggs, poultry, milk products)
contaminated by fecal matter; fecal-oral from other humans or pets (reptiles – lizards,
snakes, turtles, iguanas)
Salmonella – Clinical Presentation Answer: Diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and abdominal
cramping
Diarrhea may contain mucus and may be blood-tinged
Fever generally resolves within 48-72 hours, and diarrhea within 4-10 days
salmonella dx Answer: PCR if suspected and confirmed diagnosis is made by stool
culture if needed
salmonella tx Answer: Usually self-limited, requires replacement of fluids and
electrolytes
Antibiotics (fluroquinolones) indicated in specific populations:
Individuals with severe illness (severe diarrhea, high or persistent fever, need for
hospitalization)
Infants <12 months and adults >50 years
Poorly controlled HIV-infected or otherwise immunocompromised patients
Individuals with cardiac, valvular, endovascular abnormalities or substantial joint
disease
Shigella description Answer: Gram-negative rod
3
APPHIA - Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence.
