22 Bacterial Pathogens I - Respiratory Infections Flashcards
Most commonly affected body sites by bacterial pathogens?
- Respiratory tract
- Skin and soft tissues
- GI tract
- Genitourinary tract
T or F: Upper respiratory tract infections are more severe than lower resp. tract. infections
F
Upper respiratory tract infections are LESS severe than lower resp. tract. infections
T or F: Most bacteria have a preference wrt whether they infect either the upper or lower resp tract
T
How are resp tract infections transmitted? (2)
- Droplet transmission
2. Airborne transmission
What does Streptococcus pyogenes (“Group A Strep”) cause?
Streptococcal pharyngitis (aka “Strep throat”)
Streptococcal pharyngitis (aka “Strep throat”) is caused by what kind of bacteria (Gram stain? Shape?)
Gram positive cocci
How is Streptococcal pharyngitis (aka “Strep throat”) transmitted?
Respiratory droplet transmission
Most common age range affected by Strep throat?
5-15 yrs
Go through the pathogenesis of Strep throat.
- Strep enters upper resp tract (throat)
- It attaches to epithelial cells
- It multiplies in throat and uses anti-phagocytic capsule to evade host defenses
- It secretes hemolysin and other exotoxins (but doesn’t penetrate into deeper tissues)
- Symptoms appear (inflammation and sore throat, pus, swollen lymph nodes)
T or F: Strep throat often requires medical intervention
F
Strep throat is self-limiting
Why’re antibiotics usually used for strep throat despite it being a self-limiting illness? (2)
- prevent pt from becoming an asymptomatic carrier
2. prevent more severe complications from arising
List possible complications from untreated strep throat. (3)
- Scarlet fever
- Glomerulonephritis
- Rheumatic Fever
Symptoms of scarlet fever?
- Strep throat symptoms (sore throat, pus, swollen lymph nodes)
- Skin rash
The skin rash of scarlet fever is caused by…
certain strains of Strep that produce “Erythrogenic Exotoxin”
What does the erythrogenic exotoxin associated w/ certain strains of Strep specifically damage in the body? What occurs as a result?
Small blood vessels > high fever, red rash on face, trunk, and arms, as well as an inflamed “strawberry” tongue
A “strawberry tongue” is associated w/…
scarlet fever (a potential complication of Strep throat)
What occurs during glomerulonephritis?
Immune complexes made of Strep antigens + anti-Strep antibodies accumulate in the glomeruli (blood vessels) of the kidneys > fever, blood in urine, increased bp
When does glomerulonephritis occur?
During the RECOVERY stage of UNTREATED Strep throat
How is glomerulonephritis similar to scarlet fever?
Aside from both being complications of untreated Strep throat, they’re also both caused by only SOME strains of Strep pyogenes.
What is rheumatic fever?
- A complication of Strep infection
- An autoimmune disease where antibodies formed against Strep proteins CROSS-REACT w/ antigens found in the heart and joint tissues
Strep pyogenes can also cause necrotizing fasciitis. What is this?
“Flesh-eating disease” > a destructive tissue infection caused by various bacterial species, including Strep pyogenes
In order for Strep pyogenes to cause necrotizing fasciitis, how must it be transmitted?
Entry into skin via cuts (NOT by resp droplets)
In necrotizing fasciitis, what type of tissue is initially degraded by bacterial enzymes? What occurs afterwards?
Connective tissue is degraded first.
After tissue separation, the bacteria invade into deeper muscle tissues > tissue necrosis, high fever, rapidly-spreading inflammation occur
T or F: Streptococcus pyogenes is v. common, relatively mild, and easily treated.
T