What condition is associated with diarrhea containing blood and mucus?

The condition associated with diarrhea containing blood and mucus is indeed linked to Shigella infection. Shigellosis, caused by the bacteria Shigella, often presents with symptoms including abdominal cramping, fever, and diarrhea that can be bloody and contain mucus. The pathophysiology of this infection involves the bacteria invading the intestinal mucosa, leading to inflammation and ulceration of the intestinal lining. This results in the characteristic bloody and mucoid diarrhea, and is typically accompanied by severe abdominal pain.

Cholera is primarily characterized by watery diarrhea without blood or mucus, as it involves the secretion of large volumes of fluid into the intestinal lumen due to a toxin produced by Vibrio cholerae. Giardiasis tends to present with non-bloody diarrhea and may include symptoms like bloating and fat in the stool due to malabsorption, rather than blood and mucus. Clostridium difficile infection can also lead to diarrhea, often with foul smell and potential pseudomembranous colitis, but it typically does not present with bloody stools early on and is more commonly associated with antibiotic use.

Therefore, the distinct presentation of bloody and mucous-laden diarrhea aligns closely with Shigella infection, making it the correct answer.