17_Anaerobes 1&2 Flashcards
aerobes:
define; and part of glycolysis cycle
- can use O2 as terminal electron acceptor; generates more ATP than through glycolysis alone
- (Respiration: TCA cycle)
- TCA cycle - CO2 –> PMF –> ATP (respiration)
anaerobes:
define; key piece in the cycle
- do NOT use O2 as terminal electron acceptor
- fermentation (and/or anaerobic respiration)
- fail to grow in 10% by definition
- NO O2; anaerobic respiration
- reduced pyruvate endproducts (FERMENTATION)
define:
- strict (obligate) anaerobes
- aerotolerant anaerobes
- facultative anaerobes
- strict (obligate) anaerobes: KILLED by O2
- aerotolerant anaerobes: can withstand O2
- facultative anaerobes: can grow with or without O2
define the following:
- microaerophilic bacteria
- obligate aerobes
- facultative aerobes
- microaerophilic bacteria: prefer reduced O2 for growth
- obligate aerobes: must have O2
- facultative aerobes: uses O2 when available, otherwise fermentation or anaerobic respiration
key difference between anaerobes and aerobes?
aerobes: uses O2 as terminal electron acceptor
anaerobes: do NOT use O2 as terminal electron acceptor; fermentation (and/or anaerobic respiration); fail to grow in 10% O2
Overview of where opportunistic anaerobes are found in normal flora?
anaerobic infections from non-spore formers
- key characteristic
- predisposing factors
- key characteristic: non-spore formers are frequently polymicrobial (aerobes consume oxygen and create a niche for the anaerobes)
- predisposing factors:
- trauma
- ischemia:
- diabetes and peripheral vascular disease
- decubitus ulcers (bedsore/ pressure ulcer)
polymicrobial infections:
- common locations & manifestation
- etiological agent
- abscess may contain…
- common locations: intestine, mouth, urogenital, skin
- frequent manifestation is abscess
- Possibly more than one etiological agent; mixed infections are also termed polymicrobial infections
- Abscess may have:
- Bacteriodes (gram negative rod)
- + Fusobacterium (gram negative rod)
- + Peptostreptococcus (gram positive cocci)
- + facultative organisms such as E. coli or E. faecalis
what is the most common microbe in anaerobic infections?
Bacteroides group;
caused by endogenous organisms, particularly below the diaphragm
Bacteroides fragilis:
- characteristics
- location
- incidence
- gram negative rod with capsule
- dommensal of human intestine;
- found in 70% of bacteroides infections
Bacteroides
key virulence factors
-
*Capsule: it is anti-phagocytic
- unlike other bacterial capsules, it has active pathogenic properties
- stimulates T-cells and seems to contribute to induction of abscesses
- enzymes including:
- hyaluronidase, collagenase, heparinase, fibrinolysin
how are bacteroides treated?
- debridement and drainage of purulent material +
-
antibiotics: may have to use 2 or more for infection to resolve if it is a polymicrobic infection
- metronidazole
- carbapenems
- chloramphenicol
- beta-lactam plus beta-lactamase inhibitor
- clindamycin
name the 4 spore-forming pathogenic anaerobes
and which diseases they cause
- Clostridium tetani: –> tetanus (lock-jaw)
- Clostridium botulinum: –> botulism; infant botulism; wound botulism
- Clostridium perfringens: –> gas gangrene; food poisoning
- Clostridium difficile: –> antibiotic-assoc. diarrhea; pseudomembranous colitis
key characteristics of spores
- Resistant to heat and disinfectants
- can survive boiling or UV radiation–> must be autoclaved
- can survive chloroform and ethanol
- only slowly killed by bleach
- persists for years
- spores germinate to produce vegetative cells that are sensitive to heat and disinfectants
steps in spore formation
- cel division - axial filament formation
- septum formation and forespore development
- engulfment of forespore
- cortex formation
- coat synthesis
- complementation of coat synthesis, increase in refractility and heat resistance
- lysis of sporangium, spore liberation
clostridium tetani: characteristics
- structure
- found where?
- how enter body?
- incubation?
- gram positive rod; strict anaerobe
-
spores are found in soil, esp if rich in manure
- also found in GI tract and feces of animals& humans
- enters body through wound contaminated with soil;
- rusty nail is prototypic;
- puncture wound predisposes to anaerobiasis
- incubation period is 8 days or longer