Anaerobes Flashcards
Spore-forming: rod, Gram (+) anaerobe?
Clostridium
Non spore forming Rod Gram neg that we talked about?
Bacteroides
Campylobacter (gullian barre)
The clostridia are opportunistic pathogens. Nonetheless, they are responsible for some of the deadliest diseases including?5
gas gangrene, tetanus and botulism, pseudomembranous colitis (c. difficile) and food poisoning.
HOw do the clostridium spieces cause disease primarily?
What are the 4 main subtypes?
cause disease primarily through the production of numerous exotoxins.
Subtypes include
perfringens, tetani, botulinum, difficile
What are the two places of C. tetani found?
Are the spore forming?
Ubiquitous in soil, it is occasionally found in intestinal flora of humans and animals
Spore forming
Morphology of C. tetani?
Culture?
Biochemical activity?
Resistance?
Classification?
long and slender; flagella, no capsule, terminal located round spore(drum-stick appearance).
Culture: obligate anaerobic; Gram(+); swarming occurrs on blood agar, faint hemolysis.
Biochemical activities: does not ferment any carbohydrate and proteins.
Resistance: tolerate boiling for 60 min. Live for several years in the soil.
Classification and Antigenic Types: C. tetani is the only species. There are no serotypes
C. tetani produces two exotoxins. What are they?
tetanolysin, and tetanospasmin(a kind of neurotoxin, toxicity strong)
The actions of tetanospasmin are complex and involve three components of the nervous system?
central motor control, autonomic function, and the neuromuscular junction.
How does tetani transport to the CNS?
How long do symtpoms last?
retrograde transport to (CNS)
a few days to several weeks
Tetanospasmin, a toxin of Clostridium tetani, binds to ganglioside receptors which are what?
This prevents the release of what?
This all together causes what?
inhibitory neurons in the CNS (keeps sending signal to contract)
the neurotransmitter glycine
(inhibitory neurotransmitter)
spastic paralysis
-severe muscle contractions and spasms
-can be fatal
CONTINUOUS STIMULATION
WHat are the initial symtpms of tetanus? 3
What wont the patient have?
- ramping and twitching of muscles around a wound. The patient usually has no fever but
- sweats profusely and begins to experience
- pain, especially in the area of the wound and around the neck and jaw muscles (trismus).
What is a spasm in which the head and heels are bent backward and the body bowed forward?
opisthotonos
Comlpications from tetanus?
5
- fractures,
- bowel impaction,
- intramuscular hematoma, 4. muscle ruptures, and
- pulmonary, renal, and cardiac problems
Where does neonatal tetanus often originate from?
umbilical stump;very poor prognosis in infants whose mothers are nonimmune
Cutting the umbilical cord with dirty instruments
HOw do we diagnose tetani?
What else should we consider in the diagnosis?
2
the clinical symptoms. The wound may not be obvious.
rabies
menigitis
How should we control the symptoms and spread of a pt with tetanus?
4
- Debridement of the wounded area
- Antibody
- Metronidazole
- booster or vaccine