Acute infectious diarrhea

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Headshot of Joanna Breems, MD, FACP · Clinical Assistant Professor
Joanna Breems
MD, FACP · Clinical Assistant Professor
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Table of Contents

Learning goals

  1. Compare and contrast the microbiologic etiologies of common infectious causes of watery diarrhea, inflammatory diarrhea, and toxin-mediated diarrhea
  2. Compare and contrast the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and microbiology of Vibrio cholerae, pathogenic Escherichia coli, Campylobacter jejuni, and non-typhoidal salmonella
  3. Describe the bacteriology, pathophysiology, complications and management of pseudomembranous colitis (Clostridioides difficile)

Required pre-class materials

  • E.Flo MD 502 session

    Refresh your memory of E.coli and common features of Enterobacteriaceae from the Gram-Negative Sepsis large group session in 502.

    For your review, focus on slides 17–26.

  • Infectious Diseases: A Clinical Short Course, 4e

    Chapter 8: Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Infections
    Review the section on Acute Diarrhea.
    If you reviewed the E.coli slides, you can just skim that portion of this chapter.

Recommended study materials

These are not required. They are intended as a curated guide to content focused on the learning objectives. There are both textbook and video resources for this session for students to use per their preference.  

Click the  blue icons below to go to the library resources listed.

  • Introduction
  • Enterobacteriaceae and Related Organisms
    Pathogens both within and Outside the Enteric Tract: E.coli, Salmonella. Skip the section on E.coli if you have a mastery of the content from prior study.
  • Pathogens Primarily with the Enteric tract: Shigella, Vibrio, Campylobacter
  • High-yield sections: Pathogenic mechanisms; Blue box: Treatment
  • Table 128-4: Bacterial food poisoning

For those who prefer audio/video resources: These are good, quick, and relevant videos.