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Antidiarrheals are contraindicated in clients whose diarrhea is associated with which of the following organisms?

A. Staphylococcus aureus
B. Enterococcus
C. Escherichia coli
D. Pseudomonas

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Antidiarrheals are contraindicated for diarrhea caused by certain pathogens like C. difficile, due to the risk of preventing the elimination of the bacterium from the body, which could worsen the infection. Escherichia coli, particularly pathogenic strains, may also represent a case where antidiarrheals should not be used.

Step-by-step explanation:

Antidiarrheals are typically contraindicated in clients whose diarrhea is associated with certain bacterial infections because these medications may prevent the elimination of pathogens from the body. Specifically, in the context of diarrhea caused by Clostridium difficile (C. difficile), the use of antidiarrheals can be particularly harmful. C. difficile is a bacterium that can cause severe and potentially life-threatening diarrheal disease, usually after the use of antibiotics that disrupt the normal gut flora, allowing for C. difficile overgrowth. It is an important cause of hospital-acquired infection and is associated with antibiotic-associated diarrhea. From the options given: A. Staphylococcus aureus, B. Enterococcus, C. Escherichia coli, and D. Pseudomonas, the organism most likely to be implied in the context of this discussion is Escherichia coli, particularly the enteropathogenic strains such as those causing traveler's diarrhea or other severe infections that could worsen with the use of antidiarrheals.

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