NURS 5432 GI study guide 2026 Update 100%
Correct- Arlington, Texas
Study Guide GI
Gastroenteritis
○ What are the bacterial causes?
● E. Coli → traveler’s diarrhea
○ 1-6 days
○ Mild cramps,
AFEBRILE,
diarrhea,
TTP/HUS
○ Bactrim BID x3
days, Cipro in
adults
● Salmonella →
contaminated dairy,
eggs, poultry
○ 12-36 hours; n/v,
cramps, bloody
stool
○ Abx not recommended
● Shigella → dysentery w/ severe diarrhea w/ blood and mucus; reportable and
sexually transmitted
○ 2-4 days; ab pain/cramps, fever, tenesmus, WBC in stool
○ Bactrim BID 3-5 days, if outside US Cipro x10 days
● Campylobacter → undercooked chicken; most common pathogen in children
○ Quick onset ab pain, n/v, fever, dizziness, blood in stool
○ Erythromycin QID x 5 days or Cipro BID x7 days
● Staph aureus → n/v, cramps, soft stool from processed meats and undercooked
poultry
○ 3 min-6 hours; n/v, cramps
○ Abx not recommended
● C. Diff → PPI’s, hospitalizations, antibiotics; fever, leukocytosis, WBC in stool,
tenesmus
○ d/c antibiotic
○ Metronidazole 500mg TID and Vanc 125mg QID 10-14 days
● Giardia → 1-4 weeks
○ Foul-smelling stools, flatulence, ab pain; fecal/oral route
○ Metronidazole 250 mg TID x 5-7 days
● Diagnostics
,○ Routine testing is NOT recommended for mild disease
, ○ Severe disease
■ CBC (leukocytosis w/ left shift = bacterial, appendicitis, diverticulitis),
■ CRP
■ Chem (electrolyte depletion, AKI, acidosis)
■ Lactate (increased w/ hypoperfusion from sepsis/ischemia)
■ AST/ALT, Lipase (r/o pancreatitis)
■ KUB, ab/pelvic CT w/ oral and IV contrast
■ Sono or MRI in pregnancy for concerns of appendicitis
■ C. diff PCR
■ Ova/Parasite for diarrhea >7 days
● Treatments
○ Non-pharmacological
■ Correct dehydration orally if possible
■ Mild dehydration (3-5% volume loss): 50 mL/kg or 5 tsp/lb over 4
hours
■ Moderate dehydration (6-9% volume loss): 100 mL/kg or 10 tsp/lb
over 4 hours
■ Rehydrating with soft drinks, gelatin, or apple juice is not advised
due to high carbohydrate low electrolyte composition; rehydration
products are preferred (Pedialyte
■ BRAT diet is no longer recommended: inadequate protein, fat, and
calories
■ May develop temporary lactose intolerance and post
■ Infectious irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
■ Monitor oral intake, urine output, and bowel movements; count wet
diapers
■ Use of sitz baths, hydrocortisone cream, zinc oxide cream, and/or
witch hazel hemorrhoidal pads can provide pain relief from
perineal irritation
○ Pharmacological
■ Antiemetics
● Promethazine 12.5-25 mg / pedi 0.5mg/kg q4-6 hrs
○ DO NOT USE kids <2 d/t risk of resp depression
○ Teratogenic
○ Caution w/ sleep apnea, asthma, seizures,
glaucoma, GI, or urinary obstructions
○ Deep IM injection is required
● Selective 4-HT3 receptor antagonist (ONDANSETRON)
○ 8mg q8 hours or pedi 4mg q4 hrs
● Prevention
Correct- Arlington, Texas
Study Guide GI
Gastroenteritis
○ What are the bacterial causes?
● E. Coli → traveler’s diarrhea
○ 1-6 days
○ Mild cramps,
AFEBRILE,
diarrhea,
TTP/HUS
○ Bactrim BID x3
days, Cipro in
adults
● Salmonella →
contaminated dairy,
eggs, poultry
○ 12-36 hours; n/v,
cramps, bloody
stool
○ Abx not recommended
● Shigella → dysentery w/ severe diarrhea w/ blood and mucus; reportable and
sexually transmitted
○ 2-4 days; ab pain/cramps, fever, tenesmus, WBC in stool
○ Bactrim BID 3-5 days, if outside US Cipro x10 days
● Campylobacter → undercooked chicken; most common pathogen in children
○ Quick onset ab pain, n/v, fever, dizziness, blood in stool
○ Erythromycin QID x 5 days or Cipro BID x7 days
● Staph aureus → n/v, cramps, soft stool from processed meats and undercooked
poultry
○ 3 min-6 hours; n/v, cramps
○ Abx not recommended
● C. Diff → PPI’s, hospitalizations, antibiotics; fever, leukocytosis, WBC in stool,
tenesmus
○ d/c antibiotic
○ Metronidazole 500mg TID and Vanc 125mg QID 10-14 days
● Giardia → 1-4 weeks
○ Foul-smelling stools, flatulence, ab pain; fecal/oral route
○ Metronidazole 250 mg TID x 5-7 days
● Diagnostics
,○ Routine testing is NOT recommended for mild disease
, ○ Severe disease
■ CBC (leukocytosis w/ left shift = bacterial, appendicitis, diverticulitis),
■ CRP
■ Chem (electrolyte depletion, AKI, acidosis)
■ Lactate (increased w/ hypoperfusion from sepsis/ischemia)
■ AST/ALT, Lipase (r/o pancreatitis)
■ KUB, ab/pelvic CT w/ oral and IV contrast
■ Sono or MRI in pregnancy for concerns of appendicitis
■ C. diff PCR
■ Ova/Parasite for diarrhea >7 days
● Treatments
○ Non-pharmacological
■ Correct dehydration orally if possible
■ Mild dehydration (3-5% volume loss): 50 mL/kg or 5 tsp/lb over 4
hours
■ Moderate dehydration (6-9% volume loss): 100 mL/kg or 10 tsp/lb
over 4 hours
■ Rehydrating with soft drinks, gelatin, or apple juice is not advised
due to high carbohydrate low electrolyte composition; rehydration
products are preferred (Pedialyte
■ BRAT diet is no longer recommended: inadequate protein, fat, and
calories
■ May develop temporary lactose intolerance and post
■ Infectious irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
■ Monitor oral intake, urine output, and bowel movements; count wet
diapers
■ Use of sitz baths, hydrocortisone cream, zinc oxide cream, and/or
witch hazel hemorrhoidal pads can provide pain relief from
perineal irritation
○ Pharmacological
■ Antiemetics
● Promethazine 12.5-25 mg / pedi 0.5mg/kg q4-6 hrs
○ DO NOT USE kids <2 d/t risk of resp depression
○ Teratogenic
○ Caution w/ sleep apnea, asthma, seizures,
glaucoma, GI, or urinary obstructions
○ Deep IM injection is required
● Selective 4-HT3 receptor antagonist (ONDANSETRON)
○ 8mg q8 hours or pedi 4mg q4 hrs
● Prevention
