Bloody stool and fever: E. coli Infection: Symptoms and Prevention

30.07.202324.06.2023 by alexxlab

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E. coli Infection: Symptoms and Prevention

What is E. coli?

E. coli is short for Escherichia coli—bacteria (germs) that are found on food and in the environment. E. coli cause severe cramps and diarrhea. These bacteria are a leading cause of bloody diarrhea. The symptoms are worse in children and older people, and especially in people who have another illness. E. coli infection is more common during the summer months and in northern states.

Symptoms of E. coli infection

Symptoms can start from 1 to 10 days after you’re exposed to the germ. The first symptoms are severe abdominal cramps that start suddenly. After a few hours, watery diarrhea starts. The diarrhea causes your body to lose fluids and electrolytes (dehydration). This makes you feel sick and tired. The watery diarrhea lasts for about a day and then may change to bright red bloody stools. The infection makes sores in your intestines, so the stools become bloody. The bloody diarrhea may last for 2 to 5 days. You might have 10 or more bowel movements a day. Some people say their stools are “all blood and no stool.” You may have a mild fever or no fever. You may also have nausea or vomiting. If you have any of these symptoms—watery, bloody diarrhea, cramps, fever, nausea, or vomiting—try to get to your doctor right away.

Are there any complications from E. coli infection?

One uncommon but severe complication is called hemolytic uremic syndrome. People with this problem get hemolytic anemia (which is a low red blood cell count), thrombocytopenia (which is a low platelet count), and renal failure (which is kidney damage). Hemolytic uremic syndrome is more common in children. It can cause acute renal failure in children. This problem starts about 5 to 10 days after the diarrhea starts. People with this problem must go to a hospital for medical care.

What causes E. coli infection?

Most E. coli infections come from:

Eating undercooked ground beef (the inside is pink)
Drinking contaminated (impure) water
Drinking unpasteurized (raw) milk
Working with cattle
Eating food contaminated with animal feces (such as vegetables)

Healthy beef and dairy cattle may carry the E. coli germ in their intestines. The meat can get contaminated with the germ during the slaughtering process. When beef is ground up, the E. coli germs get mixed throughout the meat. That is why it is important to make sure ground meat is cooked all the way through. For beef steaks, a pink middle is still OK.

The most common way to get this infection is by eating contaminated food. You can be infected with the E. coli germ if you don’t use a high temperature to cook your beef, or if you don’t cook it long enough. When you eat undercooked ground beef, the germs go into your stomach and intestines.

The germ also can be passed from person to person in daycare centers and nursing homes. If you have this infection and don’t wash your hands well with soap after going to the bathroom, you can give the germ to other people when you touch things, especially food.

People who are infected with E. coli are very contagious. Children shouldn’t go to a daycare center until they have 2 negative stool cultures (proof that the infection is gone). Older people in nursing homes should stay in bed until 2 stool cultures are negative.

How is E. coli infection diagnosed?

The diagnosis is made by finding E. coli in a stool culture. If you have bloody diarrhea, see your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor will do a culture to find out if you have E. coli in your intestines. The culture has to be taken in the first 48 hours after the bloody diarrhea starts.

Can E. coli infection be prevented or avoided?

You can help prevent this infection by handling and cooking meat in a safe way. For your protection, follow these rules:

Wash your hands carefully with soap before you start cooking and after.
Cook ground beef until you see no pink anywhere.
Don’t taste small bites of raw ground beef while you’re cooking.
Don’t put cooked hamburgers on a plate that had raw ground beef on it before.
Cook all hamburgers to at least 155°F. A meat thermometer can help you test your hamburgers.
Defrost meats in the refrigerator or the microwave. Don’t let meat sit on the counter to defrost.
Keep raw meat and poultry separate from other foods. Use hot water and soap to wash cutting boards and dishes if raw meat and poultry have touched them.
Don’t drink raw milk.
Keep food refrigerated or frozen.
Keep hot food hot and cold food cold.
Wash all fruits and vegetables, especially if eaten raw.
Refrigerate leftovers right away or throw them away.
People with diarrhea should wash their hands carefully and often, using hot water and soap, and washing for at least 30 seconds. People who work in daycare centers and homes for the elderly should wash their hands often, too. Using hand sanitizer is often not enough to kill the coli, so proper handwashing is absolutely necessary.

In restaurants, always order hamburgers that are cooked well done so that no pink shows.

E. coli infection treatment

There is no special treatment, except drinking a lot of water and watching for complications. Don’t take medicine to stop diarrhea unless your doctor tells you to do so. This medicine would keep your intestines from getting rid of the E. coli germ. If you are seriously dehydrated, you might need to go to the hospital to have fluids put into your veins with an IV.

Living with E. coli infection

As you are managing E. coli at home, get plenty of bed rest. Rest promotes recovery. Drink plenty of fluids to keep from being dehydrated. Stick to clear liquids and avoid drinks that have caffeine or alcohol. When you feel you are able to eat, start slowly. Try some crackers or toast. If that sets well, begin to add in other foods, but nothing too high in fiber for a while. Most people will be better in 6 to 8 days.

Questions to ask your doctor

How do I know what caused an coli infection?
How can I safely cook meat to prevent coli infection?
What are other ways besides undercooked ground beef that can cause coli infection?
If I think I have and coli infection what should I do and when should I call you?
How can I prevent dehydration if I have an coli infection?

Resources

Foodsafety. gov: E. coli

6 Reasons Your Diarrhea is Bloody

Gastrointestinal & Buttocks

Bloody Diarrhea

Read about

Any blood in the stool may signal a more serious problem.

Written by

Shria Kumar, MD.

Therapeutic Endoscopy Fellow, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Last updated May 25, 2023

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What is bloody diarrhea?

Bacterial infection

Hemorrhoids

Inflammatory bowel disease

Intestinal ischemia

Colorectal cancer

Parasite infections

Other possible causes of bloody diarrhea

When to call the doctor

Should I go to the emergency room for bloody diarrhea?

Treatment

Table of Contents

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Written by

Shria Kumar, MD.

Therapeutic Endoscopy Fellow, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Last updated May 25, 2023

Bloody diarrhea quiz

Take a quiz to find out what’s causing your bloody diarrhea.

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6 most common causes

Crohn’s Disease

Hemorrhoids

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Colonic neoplasm

Food Poisoning

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Intestinal ischemia

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Parasite infections

Bloody diarrhea quiz

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Most common questions

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What is bloody diarrhea?

Spotting blood in the toilet or on the toilet paper can be upsetting. And blood is always cause for concern. That said, a trace of blood in your stool (whether well-formed or diarrhea-like) can be caused by a relatively minor condition, such as mild constipation or hemorrhoids.

But if you’re noticing more than a trace, or if the blood is accompanied by other stomach issues, you may need to see a doctor. Possible culprits include a bacterial or parasite infection, inflammatory bowel diseases (such as Crohn’s disease or colitis), and colorectal cancer.

1. Bacterial infection

Symptoms

Fever
Nausea or vomiting
Stomach cramps
Bloody diarrhea

A stomach bug can be caused by bacteria. Common bacterial infections that can cause bloody diarrhea include E. coli, Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella, and Clostridium difficile infection (C. diff).

Bacterial infections may be contagious and can spread if an infected person does not wash their hands thoroughly.

E. coli, Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Shigella all come from contaminated foods or water, and are often due to improper handling or cooking. C. difficile often occurs in people taking antibiotics for other infections. It’s highly contagious and is often passed from patient to patient in the hospital. People who are hospitalized or recently discharged are at high risk.

Bacterial infections can sometimes be serious and spread through the body, so early diagnosis and treatment is important. You may be given antibiotics.

2. Hemorrhoids

Pro Tip

Bloody diarrhea doesn’t necessarily indicate an emergency! —Dr. Shria Kumar

Symptoms

Blood on toilet paper

A hemorrhoid occurs when the small blood vessels around your anus become swollen and inflamed. They can be internal (inside the rectum) or external (outside). Hemorrhoids themselves may cause pain with bowel movements or blood on the toilet paper.

If you have diarrhea, this can irritate your hemorrhoids and cause some bleeding. Your doctor may recommend ointments or stool softeners (if you are constipated) to help reduce trauma to the hemorrhoids.

3. Inflammatory bowel disease

Symptoms

Fatigue
Fever
Bloody diarrhea
Weight loss
Mouth sores
Joint pains

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is inflammation of the bowel. There are two types: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. It is due to multiple factors, including genetics, the environment, and your body’s immune system. Symptoms may develop gradually or occur suddenly.

Untreated IBD causes inflammation throughout the digestive tract, which can lead to malnutrition, cancers, bleeding, and overall poor health.

Managing the condition involves eliminating the inflammation with medication and diet. Treatment includes taking anti-inflammatory medications, such as topical or oral steroids, and immunologic medications that tamp down your immune system. In some cases, surgery may be needed.

Once diagnosed with IBD, you will require regular check ups with your gastroenterologist (digestive disease doctor). You may be at increased risk of colorectal cancer, so you will need more regular cancer screenings, such as colonoscopies.

4. Intestinal ischemia

Symptoms

Sudden nausea and vomiting
Sudden bloody diarrhea
Sudden, severe abdominal pain

Ischemia occurs when blood flow is low. This happens when there is a blockage in one of the arteries in the abdomen that supplies your intestines with blood. This blockage could be plaque or a blood clot. The loss of blood flow can damage your intestines. Ischemia is a life-threatening medical emergency.

People with very high or low blood pressure and heart disease may be at risk. Using certain illegal drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine may also cause ischemia.

If you have a clot, it is treated with “clot-busting” drugs. If there’s a blockage, you may need emergency surgery to remove the blockage as well as the damaged part of the intestine.

5. Colorectal cancer

Dr. Rx

Establishing a story around the bloody diarrhea helps me a lot. When did these symptoms start? Are they accompanied by other symptoms (even non-bowel related symptoms)? Did the patient travel anywhere or eat somewhere and now other people are sick, too? What’s their overall health profile? Are they in severe pain, are they bleeding profusely (things that would prompt me to admit them to a hospital, get bloodwork and imaging studies). —Dr. Kumar

Symptoms

Weight loss
Change in appetite
Change in bowel habits, often including blood

Cancer of the colon (large intestine) or rectum is considered colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer typically affects adults over age 50, but it can happen in younger adults.

The cancers usually begin as small polyps that become cancerous over time. This is why a colonoscopy screening test, which detects and removes these small polyps before they become cancerous, is important. If you are between age 50 and 75, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends colorectal cancer screening. People at increased risk may be advised to start screening even earlier.

Colorectal cancer usually causes some changes to your bowel habits and eating patterns. Treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation.

6. Parasite infections

Symptoms

Diarrhea that may be bloody
Fever
Vomiting
Stomach cramps
Fatigue or weakness
Weight loss

You can pick up a parasite infection by consuming food or water containing parasites like hookworm or amoebiasis. Or if your hands come in contact with a parasite and you touch your face.

While parasite infections are more common in underdeveloped parts of the world where drinking water is contaminated, you can catch it in the U.S.

Blood and stool tests can determine the type of parasite, according to the CDC. Your doctor will prescribe an anti-parasitic medication.

Other possible causes of bloody diarrhea

Other less common causes of bloody diarrhea include:

Viral infections
Vascular inflammation (vasculitis), such as hemolytic uremic syndrome
Bowel obstruction
Intussusception
Diverticulosis

When to call the doctor

Pro Tip

Important questions to ask your doctor: What caused this? Do I need any treatment for this? —Dr. Kumar

Because bloody diarrhea is not normal, you should call your doctor if you see more than a few streaks of blood in your stool. Always seek medical care if you also feel lightheaded, can’t eat or drink, or have severe abdominal pain.

As bloody diarrhea can be caused by parasites or bacteria, be sure to let your doctor know about any recent trips. They will want to rule out parasites or bacteria that may be common in the places where you traveled.

In addition, the more information you share about your diet, recent medications, and lifestyle, the better your doctor can assess your symptoms. In some cases, medications could be causing your stool to appear bloody.

You should also call the doctor if you have more than one episode of bloody diarrhea, or the diarrhea is accompanied by:

Abdominal pain
Nausea or vomiting
Fever
Dizziness
Confusion
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Headache
Fatigue

Should I go to the emergency room for bloody diarrhea?

You should go to the ER if you have any of these signs, which can indicate a serious problem.

Blood looks clumpy like coffee grounds or is dark and tarry.
Blood seems to be filling the toilet or does not stop when you stand up.
You’re experiencing intense abdominal pain.
You’re experiencing uncontrollable nausea or vomiting.
You feel dizzy.
You cannot eat or drink.
You are on blood thinners (anti-coagulants).

Treatment

At-home care

Don’t take anti-diarrhea medications without a doctor’s approval. They can complicate some infections.
Avoid over-the-counter pain medicines, including Aspirin and NSAIDs like ibuprofen, which can make the bleeding worse.
Stay well-hydrated. Drinking fluids containing sodium and potassium, such as sports drinks, and bullion can help keep your electrolytes in balance.
Stay well-nourished. Eating bland foods with good nutritional and caloric value is important.

Shria Kumar, MD.

Therapeutic Endoscopy Fellow, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Dr. Kumar is a gastroenterologist, who completed her fellowship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. She received her undergraduate degrees in Religious Studies and Chemistry from New York University (2010) and graduated from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (2014), where she was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. She is completing her t…

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Diarrhea

There is an acute and chronic form of diarrhea. Acute diarrhea is associated with intestinal infection and has a viral, bacterial and parasitic nature, lasting up to 4 weeks. Chronic diarrhea is associated with diseases of the digestive system and lasts more than 4 weeks.

Acute diarrhea is transmitted by the fecal-oral route by ingestion of food and water contaminated with microorganisms. The causative agents of diarrhea are: bacteria (E. coli, salmonella, dysentery bacteria, cholera vibrio), viruses (rotaviruses, adenoviruses, enteroviruses) and protozoa (Giardia, dysenteric amoeba). The severity of the manifestation of the disease depends on the pathogen, the number of microbes that have entered the gastrointestinal tract, the state of the human immune system.

Acute intestinal infection caused by Escherichia coli occurs with moderate symptoms of general intoxication: chills, weakness, loss of appetite, fever up to 38 C, paroxysmal pain in the lower abdomen, false urge to defecate, loose stools up to 10 times a day. Symptoms last no more than a week.

Diarrhea caused by salmonella, dysentery bacteria is severe. Frequent watery stools up to 10-30 times a day, mixed with blood and pus. Abdominal pain, false urge to defecate. During and after defecation, tenesmus occurs – a pulling nature of pain in the rectal area, the temperature rises to 40 C. Due to dehydration of the body, tachycardia occurs, a decrease in blood pressure, dry skin, and weakness.

The most severe infectious disease prone to pandemic spread – cholera, begins suddenly, acutely with frequent, profuse, watery diarrhea, repeated vomiting, quickly leading to dehydration. Muscle weakness, dry skin increases, pulse quickens, blood pressure drops, convulsions appear. Body temperature remains normal or decreased, there are no abdominal pains, nausea.

Diarrhea caused by parasitic pathogens (ameba, giardia) develops gradually and is manifested by bloody diarrhea, constant pain in the abdomen.

Isolate traveler’s diarrhea. It occurs in the first two weeks in people traveling outside their region, and lasts no more than one week. The causes of this form of diarrhea are changes in diet, water quality, changing climatic conditions, stress. All cases of the disease are associated with infection of water and food by microorganisms. The disease begins acutely, body temperature is normal, nausea, vomiting, cramping abdominal pain, frequent, up to 10 times a day, watery stools appear. The disease disappears when taking enveloping agents and observing the diet, sanitary and hygienic rules (avoid eating food that is not thermally processed enough, unpasteurized dairy products, tap water, vegetables and fruits washed with such water; wash hands before eating and after visiting public places, toilet).

Acute respiratory diseases, more often caused by adenovirus and rotavirus infection, along with catarrhal symptoms (nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, dry cough, sore throat) can cause acute viral gastroenteritis, manifested by frequent loose stools, nausea, vomiting, fever, muscle weakness. In severe flu, more often “swine”, along with fever up to 40C, headache, pain in muscles and joints, dry cough, shortness of breath, there is also frequent, loose stools.

Many diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are manifested by chronic diarrhea. Chronic pancreatitis is characterized by pain in the upper abdomen, girdle, radiating to the left side of the chest. The pain is accompanied by nausea, vomiting that does not bring relief, bloating and frequent, copious, fetid stools, steatorrhea. Exacerbation of the disease provokes the use of spicy, fatty, smoked foods, alcohol.

Bloody diarrhea, especially at night, abdominal pain, anemia, fever up to 38 degrees, joint pain – occur with ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, pseudomembranous colitis, intestinal tumors.

Celiac disease is a congenital disease caused by a deficiency of enzymes that break down cereals, manifested by diarrhea (abundant, frothy stools), bloating, weight loss, anemia. Exacerbations of the disease are associated with the use of products from wheat, rye, oats, barley.

Diarrhea is associated with noninfectious colitis. They can be caused by the toxic effect of drugs (cytostatics, antibiotics, digoxin, salicylates, diclofenac, uncontrolled use of laxatives), allergies, helminthic invasion, alcohol abuse, after radiation therapy.

Antibiotic-associated diarrhea occurs while taking or 1-10 days after stopping the drugs. It is manifested by cramping pains in the abdomen, subsiding after a plentiful watery stool. After discontinuation of the drug, the symptoms quickly disappear.

Functional diarrhea in irritable bowel syndrome is associated with impaired intestinal motility and is defined when all diseases have been excluded. This condition develops at a young age, the manifestations are associated with the transferred stress, against the background of depressive conditions. Disturbed by pain, rumbling, bloating, impaired stool in the form of pseudodiarrhea (increased stool with a formed stool consistency).

Attention! The use of antidiarrheals (imodium, loperamide) is contraindicated in acute intestinal infections, as they prevent the removal of part of the toxins from the liquid contents of the intestine, with bloody diarrhea, as these drugs contribute to the aggravation of damage to the intestinal mucosa, thereby aggravating the course of the disease.

Traveler’s diarrhea | Parfenov A.I.

Traveler’s diarrhea (TD) is an intestinal disease that usually occurs during business trips, travel and other cases associated with a change in the usual household environment. Until now, there is still an opinion among the population that there is some connection between the DP and the change in the composition of water and food products in new places of residence, psychological factors and other reasons. But in fact, the cause of DP is an acute intestinal infection (AII) of a viral, bacterial or parasitic nature.

Etiology and epidemiology
DP, according to different authors, is carried by 25% to 75% of tourists [1]. The reason for such a high prevalence is explained by violations of the rules of personal hygiene, the need for food in restaurants and cafes, etc. The mechanism of transmission of the pathogen is fecal-oral, the route of distribution is food, the most common transmission factors are meat, eggs, milk and culinary products (Table 1).
Escherichia coli with enterotoxic properties, rotaviruses, shigella, salmonella and Campylobacter jejuni, which are widespread throughout the world, are the most likely causative agents of intestinal infections in DP. Often the source is water contaminated with Giardia. Giardia is especially often found in natural water sources (wells, rivers, etc.). For example, hikers in mountainous areas may develop acute diarrhea when drinking water from mountain streams.
Tourists visiting countries in Africa, Central and South America, and Eastern Europe are at especially high risk of the disease. Table 2 lists the causative agents of intestinal infection characteristic of these regions of the world
Pathophysiology
Any diarrhea is a consequence of the predominance of water-electrolyte secretion over absorption. Four mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of diarrhea: intestinal secretion, increased osmotic pressure in the intestinal cavity, impaired transit of intestinal contents, and intestinal exudation [4,5]. There is no doubt that the mechanisms of diarrhea are closely related, however, each disease is characterized by a predominant type of ion transport disorder. DP is characterized by a secretory type of diarrhea. Secretion is caused by exotoxins of intestinal pathogens by increasing intracellular second messengers. Rarely, secretion is increased by cytotoxins. They can also induce the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which recruit inflammatory cells, which in turn promote secretion activation by causing the release of agents such as prostaglandins or platelet activating factor.
Clinic
DP usually lasts no more than one week, but in 6-10% of cases, the disease can last two weeks or more [6]. The clinical picture of DP depends on the causative agent of AII. Features are the appearance of other leading symptoms, in addition to diarrhea. These include vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, and blood in the stool. The course of the disease can vary from mild to severe. In the case of viral gastroenteritis, headache and muscle pain are observed simultaneously. Most cases of gastroenteritis end in recovery.
Table 3 shows the relationship of clinical symptoms with infectious diarrhea pathogens.
Diagnostics
The disease is established on the basis of clinical symptoms, tk. conducting laboratory bacteriological studies is usually difficult.
Acute infectious DP is characterized by general malaise, fever, lack of appetite, and sometimes vomiting. Abdominal pain is caused by bacteria that produce cytotoxins that damage epithelial cells. High fever is more characteristic of invasive infections that cause an inflammatory response. In case of severe inflammation, erosions, ulcers and bloody diarrhea appear.
Bloody liquid stools, indicating damage to the intestinal mucosa by pathogenic microbes, is especially characteristic of shigellosis, campylobacteriosis and hemorrhagic colitis caused by E. coli with enteropathogenic properties.
Differential Diagnosis
If DP lasts more than 1–2 weeks, then an infectious disease specialist should be consulted with bacteriological studies.
Acute bloody diarrhea may be the first manifestation of ulcerative colitis. Nonspecific ulcerative colitis (UC) usually begins gradually, with the appearance of blood in loose (mushy or liquid) stools. Abdominal pain and fever are not typical in these cases. Diagnostic difficulties appear with an acute attack of UC. This variant of ulcerative colitis is rare. The patient’s condition in these cases is severe due to the appearance of high fever, bloody diarrhea and abdominal pain.
Acute diarrhea is caused by drugs, especially antibiotics. In most cases, antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) develops, which is not life-threatening and stops spontaneously after discontinuation of the drug or a few days after probiotic therapy. Severe AAD with sudden severe watery diarrhea and high fever, sometimes with a small amount of blood in the stool, indicates the development of pseudomembranous colitis. In this case, urgent inpatient treatment is required due to the risk of complications (toxic dilatation of the colon, perforation and sepsis).
Treatment
The patient is prescribed a sparing diet with the exception of raw vegetables and fruits. In a mild form of the disease without noticeable signs of dehydration, rehydron and other water-electrolyte solutions are administered orally, 100-150 ml every 10-15 minutes, slowly, in small sips. In their absence, home-made solutions can be recommended (8 teaspoons of sugar, 1 teaspoon of table salt, orange juice and boiled water up to one liter, take a glass every hour). In case of dehydration, intravenous crystalloid solutions are prescribed (chlosol, acesol, lactosol, quartosol, disol). Solutions are administered at a rate of 60 to 80 ml/min, depending on the degree of dehydration [7].
Currently, probiotics and enterosorbents are widely used for the treatment of diarrheal diseases.
Bactistatin® is a complex of natural components that enhance each other’s action. It combines the properties of an enterosorbent and a probiotic.
The sterilized culture fluid contains a composition of biologically active metabolites of the natural microproducer Bacillus subtilis (lysozyme, bacteriocins, catalase, etc.). Antibiotic-like substances and enzymes produced by Bacillus subtilis bacteria cause a bactericidal and bacteriostatic effect on pathogenic and conditionally pathogenic microbes, without affecting the beneficial intestinal microflora. At the same time, amino acids, antigens, polypeptides and other biologically active substances produced in the process of fermentation by bacteria have an immunomodulatory effect by stimulating the synthesis of endogenous interferon and activating macrophages. Thus, the probiotic compounds in the composition of Bactistatin® ensure the restoration of normal intestinal microflora, increase the body’s nonspecific resistance, and promote complete digestion.
Zeolite is a natural sorbent with ion-exchange properties. It is not absorbed in the intestine, passing through the gastrointestinal tract, participates in selective ion exchange with the body, being an additional source of a wide range of essential trace elements. Shows sorption properties mainly in relation to compounds with low molecular weight (methane, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia and other toxic substances), without directly interacting with vitamins, amino acids, proteins and other useful substances, leaving them in the gastrointestinal tract. Zeolite improves digestion by increasing the area of biochemical reactions in the intestine, sorption of low molecular weight metabolites and normalization of the intestinal microflora. Normalizes intestinal peristalsis, accelerating the movement of intestinal contents through the digestive tract.
The presence of zeolite in the composition of Bactistatin® provides a decrease in various types of intoxication of the body with metabolic toxins, incl. with liver and kidney failure, bacterial food poisoning. Zeolite contributes to the normalization of fat, protein, carbohydrate metabolism; improves immunity; improves the function of liver cells; stimulates regenerative processes. The prolonged action of Bactistatin® is due to the gradual release of active components immobilized on the zeolite. This allows for at least a day to maintain a therapeutic effect in the area of their application and provides action throughout the intestine.
Soy flour hydrolyzate is a natural source of high-grade protein and amino acids, provides the most favorable conditions for the uncompetitive growth of normal intestinal microflora and restoration of the microbial landscape of the body.
Thanks to the components included in the composition of Bactistatin® (sterilized culture liquid of Bacillus subtilis, zeolite, soy flour hydrolyzate), the product has detoxifying properties and helps restore normal intestinal microflora.
To improve intestinal digestion, you can prescribe pancreatic enzymes during the main meals. Loperamide, which has an antidiarrheal effect, helps to reduce the frequency of stools. Loperamide reduces intestinal tone and motility due to binding to opiate receptors. The antidiarrheal effect of the drug is directed to the m-opiate receptors of the enterin system, improving the function of epitheliocytes and reducing secretion. The antisecretory effect is accompanied by a decrease in the motor function of the intestine.
Loperamide for acute diarrhea is prescribed in tablets on the tongue or in capsules: 2 tablets. or caps. (4 mg), then – 1 tab. or caps. (2 mg) after each act of defecation in the case of loose stools until the number of acts of defecation is reduced to 1-2 per day. The maximum daily dose for adults is 8 tablets. (caps.) daily. With the appearance of a normal stool and the absence of acts of defecation within 12 hours, treatment with loperamide should be discontinued. The drug is contraindicated in invasive forms of diarrhea (shigellosis, salmonellosis, campylobacteriosis) due to the risk of toxic dilatation and perforation of the intestine.
Bismuth preparations, for example, bismuth subsalicylate, are successfully used. The drug is prescribed at 0.2-0.4 g 4 times a day until the symptoms stop, i.e. within 2-3 weeks.
Issues related to the use of antibiotics in DP are constantly discussed in the literature due to the fear of the development of side effects when using them. Antibacterial therapy is carried out empirically, given the difficulties of microbiological diagnosis. Apply drugs with a wide spectrum of action, not absorbed from the intestine (for example, rifaximin).
Forecast
DP usually lasts 5-7 days, but in severe cases or as a result of unskilled treatment, which consists in taking several tablets of antibiotics, it can last longer. The cause is bacterial overgrowth syndrome in the intestines. In the future, the formation of post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome is possible. Sometimes there is a poor tolerance to milk and other products containing disaccharides.
Prevention
The main condition for preventing DP is strict adherence to the rules of personal hygiene. The risk is especially high in children. In countries with an unfavorable epidemiological situation, it is forbidden not only to drink, but even to brush your teeth using tap water. Travelers should eat at canteens and restaurants and not buy groceries from random street vendors. It is necessary to thoroughly wash vegetables and fruits with hot water and free them from the peel before eating them. Drink only bottled water.
Persons going on a business trip or traveling should take chemoprophylaxis with them: rifaximin, ciprofloxacin – antibiotics that are effective against infection with the most common non-invasive strains of Escherichia coli, and Bactistatin.