Anaerobes - part 2

Question 1

What are the virulence factors of Clostridium perfringens

Answer 1

Exotoxins
Enterotoxin
Degradative enzymes

Question 2

What are the main/most important C. perfringens exotoxins?

Answer 2

Phospholipase C and alpha toxin - disrupt mammalian cell membranes

Question 3

The enterotoxin of C. perfringens is heat labile but….

Answer 3

the spores remain viable for >1 hour at 100°C

Question 4

What are the important temperatures to keep food at?

Answer 4

60°C + for hot food

4°C and below for cold food

Question 5

C. prefringens is always associated with what kind of gangrene?

Answer 5

gas producing gangrene

Question 6

Why is C. prefringens named as such?

Answer 6

when you colonize it, have inner and outer edges on agar

Question 7

What is the most feared complication of wound infection?

Answer 7

Gas gangrene (C. perfringens)

Question 8

Rapidly advancing inflammation, very painful, usually originating at a site of tissue devitalization.

Answer 8

gas gangrene

Question 9

Late in the course, ___ _______ can be felt in 80% of cases of gas gangrene.

Answer 9

gas crepitation

Question 10

What is the treatment for gas gangrene?

Answer 10

Radical surgery plus penicillin

Question 11

Sporulating gram positive anaerobic rod with two exotoxins and widespread in the environment.

Answer 11

Clostridium difficile

Question 12

Clostridium difficile is a common floral agent where?

Answer 12

Enteric flora

Question 13

C. diff is common in what individuals?

Answer 13

infants < 8 months

Question 14

Healthy adult carrier rates of C. diff are about 2-5%, how does this number go up?

Answer 14

Recent antibiotic use and hospitalization

Question 15

Most common cause of infectious diarrhea in hospitals and long-term care facilities.

Answer 15

C. diff

Question 16

Infection associated with antibiotic use

Answer 16

C. diff

Question 17

What are some of the most severe symptoms/signs of C. diff infection?

Answer 17

Severe colitis, toxic megacolon, perforation, sepsis (i.e. progression to the latter from the former)

Question 18

Most cases of C. diff diarrhea are _____.

Answer 18

Mild - do not require investigation or treatment

Question 19

There is a _________ strain of C. diff.

Answer 19

hypervirulent

Question 20

Major anaerobes of the colon

Answer 20

Bacteroides fragilis

Question 21

Describe the morphology and staining of Bacteroides fragilis

Answer 21

Gram negative rods

Question 22

What does Bacteroides fragilis cause?

Answer 22

Peritonitis and abdominal abscesses

Question 23

What does Bacteroides fragilis produce in terms of protection?

Answer 23

B-lactamase - not susceptible to penicillin type antibiotics

Question 24

Propionibaterium elaborates what?

Answer 24

Propionic acid