Question

A patient in your intensive care unit has severe diarrhea secondary to clostridium difficile toxin. Which of the following acid-base disorders is likely to occur?

1: Metabolic acidosis
2: Metabolic alkalosis
3: Respiratory acidosis
4: Respiratory alkalosis

Answer 1

Severe diarrhea from Clostridium difficile toxin leads to metabolic acidosis due to the excessive loss of bicarbonate ions from the gastrointestinal tract.

Step-by-step explanation:

A patient with severe diarrhea due to Clostridium difficile toxin is likely to develop metabolic acidosis. This condition arises when there is an excessive loss of bicarbonate ions through the gastrointestinal tract, leading to a decrease in the pH of the blood. Since diarrhea facilitates the loss of bicarbonate along with fluids in the GI tract, the body's pH balance shifts towards acidic, in turn causing an acid-base imbalance known as metabolic acidosis. Metabolic acidosis is a condition characterized by a low blood pH and a decrease in bicarbonate levels. In this case, severe diarrhea can lead to the loss of bicarbonate ions, causing an imbalance in acid-base levels.