Salmonella: contaminated poultry and eggs; more common in patients with SCD and achlorhydria
Campylobacter jejuni: most common cause, associated with raw or undercooked meats; abdo pain (may mimic appendicitis) and bloody diarrhea; rarely associated with GBS
E. coli EHEC O157:H7 -- associated with contaminated vegetarian food, such as German outbreak lined to bean sprouts, undercooked hamburger meat; hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)
(maybe no WBCs)
Certain patients may benefit from early plasma exchange or from use of anti-complement monoclonal antibodies.
EIEC
Shigella: 2nd most common association with HUS; associated with contaminated food or water, esp. during travel outside the US
Vibrio parahaemolyticus: shellfish and cruise ships
Vibrio vulnificus: raw shellfish, h/o liver disease, iron overload and bullous skin lesions --> cellulitis, sepsis
Yersinia enterocolitica: high affinity for iron, hemochromatosis, blood transfusions; can mimic appendicitis or Chron's disease
tends to infect the cecum rather than distal colon
Clostridium difficile: the cause of pseudomembranous colitis related to previous antibiotic use or use of antiperistaltic drugs; white and red cells in stool
Clostridium botulinum : infected canned foods
Clostridium perfringens: meats taht have been contaminated with spores by being unrefrigerated
The major protozoan associated with blood in the stool is Entamoeba histolytica.