Infectious diarrhea
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Faizan Sheraz, M.D. [2]
Overview
- See also Bacterial gastroenteritis and Gastroenteritis and Enteritis
This may be defined as diarrhea that lasts less than three and a half weeks, and is also called enteritis.
Cause/Etiology
This can nearly always be presumed to be infective, although only in a minority of cases is this formally proven. The diarrhea is usually viral in origin, and is mostly caused by Norovirus, Rotavirus, Adenovirus, or Astrovirus.
The most common organisms found are Campylobacter (from animal products), Salmonella (also often from animal foodstuffs), Cryptosporidium (ditto), and Giardia lamblia (lives in water). Shigella dysentery is less common, and usually human in origin. Cholera is rare in Western countries. It is more common in travelers and is usually related to contaminated water (its ultimate source is probably sea water). Escherichia coli is probably a very common cause of diarrhea, especially Traveler's diarrhea, but it can be difficult to detect using current technology. The types of E. coli vary from area to area and country to country. Clostridium difficile is considered the most common cause of infectious diarrhea in hospitalized patients worldwide.[1]
Viruses, particularly rotavirus, are common in children. (Viral diarrhea is probably over-diagnosed by non-doctors). Norwalk virus can also cause these symptoms.
Toxins and food poisoning can cause diarrhea. These include staphylococcal toxin (often from milk products due to an infected wound in workers), and Bacillus cereus. Often "food poisoning" is really Salmonella infection. Diarrhea can also be caused by ingesting foods that contain indigestible material, for instance, escolar and olestra.
Parasites and worms sometimes cause diarrhea but are often accompanied by weight loss, irritability, rashes or anal itching. The most common is pinworm (mostly a nuisance rather than a severe medical illness). Other worms, such as hookworm, ascaria, and tapeworm are more medically significant and may cause weight loss, anemia, general unwellness and allergy problems. Amoebic dysentery due to Entamoeba histolytica is an important cause of bloody diarrhea in travelers and also sometimes in western countries. It requires appropriate and complete medical treatment.
Diagnosis
In more severe cases, or where it is important to find the cause of the illness, stool cultures are instituted.
Among medical inpatients, the presence of fecal leukocytes can predict a "breach in the colonic mucosa (any infectious or inflammatory condition, blood in the stool, or acute vascular insufficiency)"[2]:
- sensitivity = 28%
- specificity = 92%
Differential Diagnosis
Acute inflammatory diarrhea may be caused by different pathogens. Bellow is a table describing some of these pathogens in terms of transmission and symptoms:[3][4]
| Pathogen | Transmission | Clinical Manifestations | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fever | Nausea/Vomiting | Abdominal Pain | Bloody Stool | ||
| Salmonella | Foodborne transmission, community-acquired | ++ | + | ++ | + |
| Shigella | Community-acquired, person-to-person | ++ | ++ | ++ | + |
| Campylobacter | Community-acquired, ingestion of undercooked poultry | ++ | + | ++ | + |
| E. coli (EHEC or EIEC) | Foodborne transmission, ingestion of undercooked hamburger meat | ± | + | ++ | ++ |
| Clostridium difficile | Nosocomial spread, antibiotic use | + | ± | + | + |
| Yersinia | Community-aquired, foodborne transmission | ++ | + | ++ | + |
| Entamoeba histolytica | Travel to or emigration from tropical regions | + | ± | + | ± |
| Aeromonas | Ingestion of contaminated water | ++ | + | ++ | + |
| Plesiomonas | Ingestion of contaminated water or undercooked shellfish, travel to tropical regions | ± | ++ | + | + |
Treatment
With mild cases of acute diarrhea, it is often reasonable to reassure a patient, ensure adequate fluid intake, and wait and see.
Parasites (worms and amoeba) should always be treated with antimicrobial drugs.
Antimotility agents
Loperamide can reduce diarrhea in patients with shigella[5], but not in patients with traveler's diarrhea due to enterotoxigenic E. coli.[6]
A systematic review of randomized controlled trials found that loperamide may harm children less that 3 years old.
Antisecretory agents
A randomized controlled trial found that racecadotril, an enkephalinase inhibitor, may reduce the volume of watery diarrhea.[7]
Antimicrobial Regimen
Immunocompetent
- Bacterial [8]
- 1. Shigella species
- Preferred regimen (1):
- Adult dose: TMP-SMZ, 160 and 800 mg, respectively bid for 3 days (if susceptible ) OR Fluoroquinolone (e.g., 300 mg Ofloxacin, 400 mg Norfloxacin, OR 500 mg Ciprofloxacin bid for 3 days)
- Pediatric dose: TMP-SMZ, 5 and 25 mg/kg, respectively bid for 3 days
- Preferred regimen (2):
- Adult dose: Nalidixic acid 1 g/d for 5 days OR Ceftriaxone; Azithromycin
- Pediatric dose: Nalidixic acid, 55 mg/kg/d for 5 days
- 2. Non-typhi species of Salmonella
- Preferred regimen: Not recommended routinely, but if severe or patient is younger than 6 monthes or older than 50 year old or has prostheses, valvular heart disease, severe atherosclerosis, malignancy, or uremia, TMP-SMZ (if susceptible) OR Fluoroquinolone, bid for 5 to 7 days; Ceftriaxone, 100 mg/kg/d in 1 or 2 divided doses
- 3. Campylobacter species
- Preferred regimen: Erythromycin 500 mg bid for 5 days
- 4. Escherichia coli species
- 4.1. Enterotoxigenic
- Preferred regimen: TMP-SMZ, 160 and 800 mg, respectively, bid, for 3 days (if susceptible), OR Fluoroquinolone (e.g., 300 mg Ofloxacin, 400 mg Norfloxacin, or 500 mg Ciprofloxacin bid for 3 days)
- 4.2. Enteropathogenic
- Preferred regimen: TMP-SMZ, 160 and 800 mg, respectively, bid, for 3 days (if susceptible), OR Fluoroquinolone (e.g., 300 mg Ofloxacin, 400 mg Norfloxacin, or 500 mg Ciprofloxacin bid for 3 days)
- 4.3. Enteroinvasive
- Preferred regimen: TMP-SMZ, 160 and 800 mg, respectively, bid, for 3 days (if susceptible), OR Fluoroquinolone (e.g., 300 mg Ofloxacin, 400 mg Norfloxacin, or 500 mg Ciprofloxacin bid for 3 days)
- 4.4. Enterohemorrhagic
- Preferred regimen: Avoid antimotility drugs; role of antibiotics unclear, and administration should be avoided.
- 5. Aeromonas/Plesiomonas
- Preferred regimen: TMP-SMZ, 160 and 800 mg, respectively, bid for 3 days (if susceptible), Fluoroquinolone (e.g., 300 mg Ofloxacin, 400 mg Norfloxacin, or 500 mg Ciprofloxacin bid for 3 days)
- 6. Yersinia species
- Preferred regimen: Antibiotics are not usually required; Deferoxamine therapy should be withheld; for severe infections or associated bacteremia treat as for immunocompromised hosts, using combination therapy with Doxycycline, Aminoglycoside, TMP-SMZ, OR Fluoroquinolone
- 7. Vibrio cholerae O1 or O139
- Preferred regimen (1): Doxycycline 300-mg single dose
- Preferred regimen (2): Tetracycline 500 mg qid for 3 days
- Preferred regimen (3): TMP-SMZ 160 and 800 mg, respectively, bid for 3 days
- Preferred regimen (4): single-dose Fluoroquinolone
- 8. Toxigenic Clostridium difficile
- Preferred regimen: Offending antibiotic should be withdrawn if possible; Metronidazole, 250 mg qid to 500 mg tid for 3 to 10 days
- Parasites [8]
- 1. Giardia
- Preferred regimen: Metronidazole 250-750 mg tid for 7-10 days
- 2. Cryptosporidium species
- Preferred regimen: If severe, consider Paromomycin, 500 mg tid for 7 days
- 3. Isospora species
- Preferred regimen: TMP-SMZ, 160 and 800 mg, respectively, bid for 7 to 10 days
- 4. Cyclospora species
- Preferred regimen: TMP/SMZ, 160 and 800 mg, respectively, bid for 7 days
- 5. Microsporidium species
- Preferred regimen: Not determined
- 6. Entamoeba histolytica
- Preferred regimen (1): Metronidazole 750 mg tid for 5 to 10 days AND Diiodohydroxyquin 650 mg tid for 20 days
- Preferred regimen (2): Metronidazole 750 mg tid for 5 to 10 days AND Paromomycin 500 mg tid for 7 days
Immunocompromised
- Bacterial [8]
- 1. Shigella species:
- Preferred regimen (1):
- Adult dose: TMP-SMZ, 160 and 800 mg, respectively bid for 7 to 10 days (if susceptible ) OR Fluoroquinolone (e.g., 300 mg Ofloxacin, 400 mg Norfloxacin, OR 500 mg Ciprofloxacin bid for 7 to 10 days)
- Pediatric dose:TMP-SMZ, 5 and 25 mg/kg, respectively bid for 7 to 10 days
- Preferred regimen (2):
- Adult dose: Nalidixic acid 1 g/d for 7 to 10 days OR Ceftriaxone; Azithromycin
- Pediatric dose: Nalidixic acid, 55 mg/kg/d for 7 to 10 days
- 2. Non-typhi species of Salmonella
- Preferred regimen: Not recommended routinely, but if severe or patient is younger than 6 monthes or older than 50 old or has prostheses, valvular heart disease, severe atherosclerosis, malignancy, or uremia, TMP-SMZ (if susceptible) OR Fluoroquinolone, bid for 14 days (or longer if relapsing); ceftriaxone, 100 mg/kg/d in 1 or 2 divided doses
- 3. Campylobacter species
- Preferred regimen: Erythromycin, 500 mg bid for 5 days (may require prolonged treatment)
- 4. Escherichia coli species
- 4.1. Enterotoxigenic
- Preferred regimen: TMP-SMZ, 160 and 800 mg, respectively, bid for 3 days (if susceptible), OR Fluoroquinolone (e.g., 300 mg Ofloxacin, 400 mg Norfloxacin, or 500 mg Ciprofloxacin bid for 3 days) (Consider fluoroquinolone as for enterotoxigenic E. coli)
- 4.2. Enteropathogenic
- Preferred regimen: TMP-SMZ, 160 and 800 mg, respectively, bid,for 3 days (if susceptible), OR Fluoroquinolone (e.g., 300 mg Ofloxacin, 400 mg Norfloxacin, or 500 mg Ciprofloxacin bid for 3 days)
- 4.3. Enteroinvasive
- Preferred regimen: TMP-SMZ, 160 and 800 mg, respectively, bid,for 3 days (if susceptible), OR Fluoroquinolone (e.g., 300 mg Ofloxacin, 400 mg Norfloxacin, or 500 mg Ciprofloxacin bid for 3 days)
- 4.4. Enterohemorrhagic
- Preferred regimen: Avoid antimotility drugs; role of antibiotics unclear, and administration should be avoided.
- 5. Aeromonas/Plesiomonas
- Preferred regimen: TMP-SMZ, 160 and 800 mg, respectively, bid for 3 days (if susceptible), Fluoroquinolone (e.g., 300 mg ofloxacin, 400 mg norfloxacin, or 500 mg Ciprofloxacin bid for 3 days)
- 6. Yersinia species
- Preferred regimen: Doxycycline, Aminoglycoside (in combination) or TMP-SMZ or Fluoroquinolone
- 7. Vibrio cholerae O1 or O139
- Preferred regimen: Doxycycline, 300-mg single dose; or Tetracycline, 500 mg qid for 3 days; or TMP-SMZ, 160 and 800 mg, respectively, bid for 3 days; or single-dose Fluoroquinolone
- 8. Toxigenic Clostridium difficile
- Preferred regimen: Offending antibiotic should be withdrawn if possible; Metronidazole, 250 mg qid to 500 mg tid for 3 to 10 days
- Parasites [8]
- 1. Giardia
- Preferred regimen: Metronidazole, 250-750 mg tid for 7-10 days
- 2. Cryptosporidium species
- Preferred regimen: Paromomycin, 500 mg tid for 14 to 28 days, then bid if needed; highly active antiretroviral therapy including a protease inhibitor is warranted for patients with AIDS
- 3. Isospora species
- Preferred regimen: TMP-SMZ, 160 and 800 mg, respectively, qid for 10 days, followed by TMP-SMZ thrice weekly, or weekly Sulfadoxine (500 mg) and Pyrimethamine (25 mg) indefinitely for patients with AIDS
- 4. Cyclospora species
- 5. Microsporidium species
- Preferred regimen: Albendazole, 400 mg bid for 3 weeks; highly active antiretroviral therapy including a protease inhibitor is warranted for patients with AIDS
- 6. Entamoeba histolytica
- Preferred regimen: Metronidazole, 750 mg tid for 5 to 10 days, plus either Diiodohydroxyquin, 650 mg tid for 20 days, or Paromomycin, 500 mg tid for 7 days
Prognosis
Acute infectious diarrhea usually lasts 7 days when not treated with antibiotics.[9] It is not uncommon for diarrhea to persist. Diarrhea due to some organisms may persist for years without significant long term illness. More commonly the diarrhea slowly ameliorates but the patient becomes a carrier (harbors the infection without illness). This is often an indication for treatment, especially in food workers or institution workers.
Salmonella is the most common persistent bacterial organism in humans.
References
- ↑ "Clostridium difficile (C. difficile): Questions and Answers - Public Health Agency of Canada". Retrieved 2007-08-16.
- ↑ Granville LA, Cernoch P, Land GA, Davis JR (2004). "Performance assessment of the fecal leukocyte test for inpatients". J. Clin. Microbiol. 42 (3): 1254–6. PMID 15004086.
- ↑ Thielman NM, Guerrant RL (2004). "Clinical practice. Acute infectious diarrhea". N Engl J Med. 350 (1): 38–47. doi:10.1056/NEJMcp031534. PMID 14702426.
- ↑ Khan AM, Faruque AS, Hossain MS, Sattar S, Fuchs GJ, Salam MA (2004). "Plesiomonas shigelloides-associated diarrhoea in Bangladeshi children: a hospital-based surveillance study". J Trop Pediatr. 50 (6): 354–6. doi:10.1093/tropej/50.6.354. PMID 15537721.
- ↑ Murphy GS, Bodhidatta L, Echeverria P; et al. (1993). "Ciprofloxacin and loperamide in the treatment of bacillary dysentery". Ann. Intern. Med. 118 (8): 582–6. PMID 8452323.
- ↑ Taylor DN, Sanchez JL, Candler W, Thornton S, McQueen C, Echeverria P (1991). "Treatment of travelers' diarrhea: ciprofloxacin plus loperamide compared with ciprofloxacin alone. A placebo-controlled, randomized trial". Ann. Intern. Med. 114 (9): 731–4. PMID 2012354.
- ↑ Salazar-Lindo E, Santisteban-Ponce J, Chea-Woo E, Gutierrez M (2000). "Racecadotril in the treatment of acute watery diarrhea in children". N. Engl. J. Med. 343 (7): 463–7. PMID 10944563.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Guerrant RL, Van Gilder T, Steiner TS, Thielman NM, Slutsker L, Tauxe RV; et al. (2001). "Practice guidelines for the management of infectious diarrhea". Clin Infect Dis. 32 (3): 331–51. doi:10.1086/318514. PMID 11170940.
- ↑ Invalid
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