Cholera

OVERVIEW

  • Gastrointestinal infection caused by vibrio cholerae (Gram negative rod)
  • not endemic in Australasia
  • seen in returning travelers
  • transmission through consumption of contaminated drinking water or food

CLINICAL FEATURES

  • profuse watery diarrhoea (“rice water” stools), vomiting
  • dehydration

RISK FACTORS

  • proton pump inhibitors
  • paediatrics
  • developing world

INVESTIGATIONS

  • electrolyte derangement
  • rapid dip-stick test available
  • faeces

MANAGEMENT

  • rehydration (PO or IV)
  • electrolyte replacement
  • antibiotics: reduce volume and duration

-> doxycycline 100mg PO Q12hrly
-> ciprofloxacin 1g PO Q24hrly
-> amoxicillin 250mg Q6hrly (pregnancy)


References and Links


CCC 700 6

Critical Care

Compendium

Chris is an Intensivist and ECMO specialist at The Alfred ICU, where he is Deputy Director (Education). He is a Clinical Adjunct Associate Professor at Monash University, the Lead for the  Clinician Educator Incubator programme, and a CICM First Part Examiner.

He is an internationally recognised Clinician Educator with a passion for helping clinicians learn and for improving the clinical performance of individuals and collectives. He was one of the founders of the FOAM movement (Free Open-Access Medical education) has been recognised for his contributions to education with awards from ANZICS, ANZAHPE, and ACEM.

His one great achievement is being the father of three amazing children.

On Bluesky, he is @precordialthump.bsky.social and on the site that Elon has screwed up, he is @precordialthump.

| INTENSIVE | RAGE | Resuscitology | SMACC

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