Background Resources for January Case

Our current case focuses on whether C. difficile infection is possible in a patient with ileostomy. If you're not familiar with the procedure and terminology, it can be difficult to envision why the disconnect between the small intestine and colon matters in this particular case. The following freely available resources should help with visualizing the gastrointestinal anatomy and understanding the patient's situation.

Main Concepts
Anatomy of the Gastrointestinal Tract

MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Lower Digestive Anatomy (illustration)

National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Your Digestive System and How it Works

MeSH Database: Gastrointestinal Tract

Ileostomy - surgical procedure involving part of the small intestine

National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Ileostomy, Colostomy, and Ileoanal Reservoir Surgery

UW Medical Center Ostomy Care Service: Colostomy or Ileostomy (click on Colostomy/Ileostomy to download and view a slideshow with illustrations)

United Ostomy Association: Ileostomy Guide (PDF)

MeSH Database: Ileostomy

Clostridium difficile - a bacteria that lives in the large intestine

CDC: General Information About Clostridium difficile Infections

CDC: Clostridium difficile Information for Healthcare Providers

eMedicine: Clostridium difficile Colitis (the expected type of C. difficile infection; it was unusual in our patient, as the patient did not have a colon)

MeSH Database: Clostridium difficile

Diarrhea

National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Diarrhea

MayoClinic: Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea

MeSH Database: Diarrhea

Additional Topics
Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia - a specific kind of hospital-acquired pneumonia that develops in patients requiring mechanical ventilation

CDC: Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia

MeSH Database: The 2007 update of MeSH from NLM includes the new term, Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated, which is new to MeSH this year.

Ischemic Colon - when blood flow to your large intestine is diminished or blocked, leading to low oxygen in the affected area

MayoClinic: Intestinal Ischemia

MayoClinic: Ischemic Colitis

American College of Gastroenterology: Intestinal Ischemia

MeSH Database: Colitis, Ischemic