Browse categories and answer follow-up questions to refine your symptom profile.
Immediate priorities
Initial stabilization
Airway protection triggers
Repeated emesis with inability to protect airway
Depressed mental status with aspiration risk
Breathing support triggers
Hypoxemia with aspiration pneumonia concern
Severe metabolic acidosis with respiratory fatigue
Circulation targets
Mean arterial pressure 65 mmHg or higher
Urine output 0.5 mL/kg/hour or higher
Early escalation triggers
Hypotension
Shock
Toxic megacolon concern
Ileus with distension and pain
Infection control at triage
Contact precautions
Gown and gloves
Dedicated equipment
Hand hygiene
Soap and water preferred when spores concern
Alcohol gel as adjunct, not replacement
Environmental cleaning
Sporicidal disinfectant
High touch surface focus
Complication screen
Fulminant disease features
Hypotension or shock
Ileus
Toxic megacolon
Dehydration and electrolyte derangement risk
Volume depletion
Hypokalemia risk
Acute kidney injury risk
Sepsis physiology
Lactate elevation
Altered mental status
Peripheral hypoperfusion
Severity classification
Severity categories
Nonsevere criteria
White blood cell count 15 x 10^9/L or less
Serum creatinine less than 1.5 mg/dL equivalent local baseline threshold
Severe criteria
White blood cell count greater than 15 x 10^9/L
Serum creatinine 1.5 mg/dL equivalent or higher relative to baseline
Fulminant criteria
Hypotension
Shock
Ileus
Toxic megacolon
High risk recurrence profile
Age 65 years or older
Immunocompromised state
Prior C difficile episode within 6 months
Severe initial presentation
Concomitant systemic antibiotic requirement
Key decision points
Early consult and activation
If fulminant features, ICU and surgery consultation
Toxic megacolon concern
Perforation concern
If severe dehydration or AKI, inpatient admission planning
Persistent tachycardia
Orthostasis
If refractory pain or distension, imaging pathway
CT abdomen pelvis for complication assessment
Antimicrobial stewardship actions
Inciting antibiotic stop or narrow
If clinically feasible, stop high risk antibiotics
If ongoing need, select narrowest effective agent
Gastric acid suppression review
Proton pump inhibitor continuation only with clear indication
Test strategy
Stool testing eligibility
Unformed stool with diarrhea
New onset unexplained diarrhea
Avoid low value testing
Formed stool testing avoidance
Test of cure avoidance
SymptomDx is an educational tool for medical professionals. It does not replace clinical judgment. Verify all clinical data and drug dosages with authoritative sources.