21 - Rickettsial Disease Flashcards
What is a “rickettsia organism”?
A middle ground between bacteria and viruses
- obligate intracellular gram-neg coccobacilli
Gram stain for rickettsia?
Doesnt stain well with gram stain
RED if stained with giemsa stain
Transmission of rickettsial disease?
Usually arthropods to humans
- except Q fever
3 Subgroups of rickettsial disease?
- Spotted fever group
- rocky mountain spotted fever - Typhus group
- louse-borne typhus
- brill-zinsser disease
- maurine typhus - Other
- ehrlichiosis
- cat scratch disease
- trench fever
- scrub typhus
Pathophysiology of rickettsial disease?
Multiply’s in the endothelial cells
Focal area is the site of infection but it then Hits the blood stream
Organs that are effected by rickettsial disease
Can affect all organs but
Most readily fond in the skin and adrenals
Common sites
- CNS
- Heart
- Liver
Common tx for rickettsia?
Doxy
Louse borne typhus is caused by?
Rickettsia prowazekii
Spread by lice (pediculus humanus)
Epidemics of louse borne typhus are common in?
Europe
Asia
Africa
- associated with overcrowding
Louse borne typhus s/s?
Abrupt onset - 1-2 wks after exposure Fever HA Rash
Louse borne typhus rash?
Presents on days 4-7
TRUNK -> extremities
- opposite of RMSF
Spares the face, palms and soles
Macules -> maculopapules -> petechiae
Complications of louse borne typhus?
Gangrene Pericarditis Myocarditis Pleural effusion Pneumonia
Severe
- meningoencephalitis
- delirium
- fetal cardiac and renal failure
What is brill-zinsser disease?
A relapse of louse-borne typhus
- milder and less debilitating
Average is 10-20 yrs later
Where do you find the disease with brill-zinsser disease?
Lives in the
- spinal marrow
- lymphoid
- adipose tissue
After the primary infection
Maurine typhus is aka?
Endemic or flea-borne