Anaerobes Flashcards
Purpose of aerotolerance test
Both BAP & CNA plate should be used to differentiate between true anaerobes & capnophiles. Used to determine whether microbes are strict anaerobes or only facultative
Procedure of aerotolerance test
The same organism is placed on two plates - one is incubated aerobically, the other anaerobically. If only the anaerobe plate org grows, then anaerobe. If the org grew on aerobic and anaerobe, then aerobe
BBE agar
Selective/differential for Bacteroides fragilis
Turns black due to the org’s ability to hydrolyze esculin
EYA agar
Differential; used to detect lecithinase, lipase, & protease activity (Source from egg)
Nagler test
On EYA agar, C. perfringens antitoxin type A is smeared on 1/2 of the plate, then org is inoculated across both sides of plate. Pos test result is the lack of lecithinase activity on the half plate with antitioxin
What test has replaced the Nagler test?
Reverse CAMP test
Bacteriostatic effects of O2 on anaerobes
If O2 is introduced, the org is busy trying to reduce the molecular oxygen & uses energy that is needed for metabolism, so can’t reproduce = static growth
Bactericidal effects of O2 on anaerobes
Superoxide anions, hydroxyl radicals & hydrogen peroxide all build up, causing a cidal effect because anaerobes have few enzymes to effectively protect themselves from these byproducts
Why anaerobes need an environment that has a low redox potential? (media)
There are certain anaerobic growth enzymes that require fully reduced sulfhydryl groups to be present to sustain life
Why anaerobes need an environment that has a low redox potential (in vivo)
These sulfhydryl groups are provided by other “NF” that are present
Where anaerobes are located in the body
Skin, upper resp, female genital tract, GI tract
Where anaerobes are located in the environment
Soil, fresh & salt water
- Bacteroides fragilis
- Porphyromonas/Prevotella
- Fusobacterium nucleatum
- Clostridium species
- Actinomyces israelii
5 most commonly found anaerobes in infections
SPS disk
sodium polyanethol sulfonate
gm +c Peptostreptococcus anaerobius is susceptible
Nitrate disk
Nitrate -> nitrite
Bile disk
to test if org can grow in 20% conc. of bile
gram neg rod that’s 20% bile resistant is Bacteroides fragilis
Catalase
Clostridium: catalase =
Bacillus: catalase +
Gas liquid chromatography
Match peaks & time of peaks with known organisms
Biochemical based mini-systems
IDs in 24-48 hours