[Acute infectious (not Clostridium difficile-associated) diarrhea in the elderly]. / Acute infectieuze (niet Clostridium difficile geassocieerde) diarree bij ouderen.

Acute diarrhoea, non-antibiotic associated, is a common problem and a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in old age. In most cases diarrhoea has an infectious etiology. A number of different micro organisms can cause infectious diarrhoea. Most frequent are viral infections with a benign evolution. Rehydration is the only important therapeutic measure. Infections with bacteria are less common, antibiotics should be prescribed only in severe cases, and when there is suspicion of invasive infections by enteropathogenic bacteria.

Acute infectieuze (niet Clostridium difficile geassocieerde) diarree bij ouderen : Klinische les.

Acute diarrhoea, non-antibiotic associated, is a common problem and a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in old age. In most cases diarrhoea has an infectious etiology. A number of different micro organisms can cause infectious diarrhoea. Most frequent are viral infections with a benign evolution. Rehydration is the only important therapeutic measure. Infections with bacteria are less common, antibiotics should be prescribed only in severe cases, and when there is suspicion of invasive infections by enteropathogenic bacteria.

[Antibiotic associated diarrhea and Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea in the elderly]. / Antibiotica geassocieerde en Clostridium difficile geassocieerde diarree bij ouderen.

Antibiotic associated diarrhea (AAD) is a common complication when antibiotics are used and is frequent in the elderly. It has an impact on the length of hospital stay and increases the comorbidity. Together with the type of antibiotic that is given, the length of antibiotical treatment and the combination of antibiotics is more predictive for the evolution of diarrhea when compared to the total given dose. Mostly AAD is benign, but an infection with C. difficile should always be excluded. C. difficile-enterocolitis is frequent among residents in nursing homes and in hospitalised patients. The clinical presentation varies from asymptomatic colonisation tot severe debilitating disease. A rapid diagnosis can be performed by detection of C. difficile toxin by an enzyme-linked immunoassay. Oral metronidazole and oral vancomycine are equally effective in the therapy. In relapsing infection an extended tapering regimen is sometimes necessary.