Question

A 74-year-old man develops watery diarrhoea 6 times daily with abdominal cramps while on broad-spectrum antibiotics for pneumonia. He has a raised white cell count and temperature 38.2 °C. What is the most appropriate initial investigation?

Accepted Answer

Stool test for Clostridioides difficile toxin

Answer

Sigmoidoscopy

Answer

Abdominal CT scan

Answer

Stool culture for Salmonella and Shigella only

Answer

No investigation is required; this is expected with antibiotics

Practice question

A 74-year-old man develops watery diarrhoea 6 times daily with abdominal cramps while on broad-spectrum antibiotics for pneumonia. He has a raised white cell count and temperature 38.2 °C. What is the most appropriate initial investigation?