Final answer:
A CPCT should look for blood in the stool as a sign of an upper gastrointestinal disorder while collecting a stool sample. This can indicate conditions like colorectal cancer or infections from agents causing bloody stools. Prompt stool sample processing is crucial for accurate diagnosis of gastrointestinal issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
A CPCT (Certified Patient Care Technician) collecting a stool specimen from a newly admitted patient should be aware that the presence of blood in the stool can indicate an upper gastrointestinal disorder. Conditions such as colorectal cancer can manifest with symptoms like constipation, diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain, and rectal bleeding, either obvious or occult (hidden in feces). In addition to direct observation, fecal occult blood tests are used to detect hidden blood in stool samples.
Several infectious agents, such as C. jejuni, Salmonella, and E. histolytica, can also cause bloody stools. In acute cases of gastroenteritis, symptoms like excessive vomiting and diarrhea without the presence of blood are common, which could point towards different causative agents. In any instance, it is important for the CPCT to promptly process stool samples to facilitate accurate diagnosis using various techniques such as immunoassays for determining infections like Shigella or molecular tests to diagnose conditions like C. difficile infections.