Actinomyces and Candida Flashcards
What are actinomyces?
Gram pos filamentous bac, uneven staining, sometimes show branching
How many actinomyces species exist?
21 species - 5 cause majority of disease in man
List the main actinomyces that cause disease
A.isreelii - most frequent in actinomycosis, sometimes with AA A.oris - 2nd most freq A.odontolyticus - important in caries A.gerencseriae - caries A.meyeri - brain abscess
What is the habitat of actinomyces species?
Mouth, gut, vagina
How is actinomyces cultured in the lab?
Fastidious - usually use brain-heart infusion
Microaerophilic/facultatively anaerobic
Slow growing - 3-7 days - colonies look like molar teeth
What is Actinomycosis?
How to diagnose it?
Rare infec disease
Painful slow growing abscess - months
Affected people often just had dental treatment, poor oh, PD
Diagnosis - microbiological culture, immunoassay, MRI
Where is actinomycosis located?
- Cervicofacial - 55-65% = acute, painful or chronic indolent (little pain) with sinus - no lymphadenopathy
- Abdominopelvic - 10-20% IUDs
- Thoracic - aspiration
- Cerebral - mucosal break
Entry of actinomycosis?
Mucosal break
Histological presentation of actinomycosis?
Chronic inflam, fibrosis, eosinophilic terminal clubs
In pus - sulphur granules
Pathogenic factors of actinomyces?
No toxins or aggressive enzymes Virulence associated with; - Induction of chronic inflam - Walling off from defences - Slow growth as large aggregates in a matrix
Treatment of actinomycosis?
Surgical drainage Antibiotics - 6-8 weeks: - Amoxicillin - Penicillin - Tetracycline
What is candida?
Dimorphic fungus; can exist as a: - Blastospore (round) - Hyphae - Chlamydospores (oval) Cause opportunistic infecs
List candida species
C.albicans - most frequent C.tropicalis C.krusei C.glabrata C.dubliniensis C.auris - 2009 increasing systemic infection
Candida species habitat?
Mouth, gut, vagina
How to culture and identify candida? (how to grow it)
- Sabouraud’s dextrose medium - creamy colonies
- C.albicans - germ tube test = 3hr in serum, 37°C
- Sugar utilisation tests = as sole source of carbon