Anaerobic infections of soft tissue

Question 1

how are anaerobic infections initiated?

Answer 1

following deep tissue trauma- accidents, cancer, surgery, immunosuppression and IV drug abouse

Question 2

which anaerobic infections have vaccines available?

Answer 2

tetanus

Question 3

what are the morphologies of clostridia, bacteriodes, prevotella and actinomyces?

Answer 3

all are rods

clostridia and actinomyces are gram positive and bacteriodes and prevoella are gram negative

Question 4

which anaerobic pathogens are environmental?

Answer 4

C. tetani and C. botulinum

Question 5

which anaerobic pathogens are also normal flora?

Answer 5

c. difficile, bacteriodes, prevotella and actinomyces

Question 6

which anaerobic pathogen can be either normal flora or environmental?

Answer 6

C. perfringens

Question 7

what is the mechanism of pathogenesis of C tetani and C botulinum? how do they differ?

Answer 7

both produce neurotoxins with synaptobrevin II protease activity. They are different because of the nerves they effect

Question 8

what part of the nervous system is affected by tetanus? what is the toxin involved? what is the result?

Answer 8

tetanospasmin affects the inhibitory portion of the central nervous system. results in spasms

Question 9

what part of the nervous system does botulism affect? what is the result?

Answer 9

botulinum toxin is active in the stimulatory portion of the peripheral nervous system. It causes flaccid paralysis

Question 10

what is the treatment for botulism and tetanus?

Answer 10

antitoxin to bind and inactivate the neurotoxin

Question 11

how is botulism introduced into the body, primarily?

Answer 11

by eating improperly canned foods

Question 12

what pathogen causes gas gangrene? what is the method of pathogenesis?

Answer 12

c perfringens

produces tissue degrading enzymes

Question 13

why must gas gangrene be resolved quickly?

Answer 13

because lethal exotoxemia may ensue

Question 14

how are C perfringens, bacteroides and prevotella identified?

Answer 14

by anaerobic culture and gas cromatography of their metabolic products

Question 15

which are the tissue degrading anaerobes and how are they treated?

Answer 15

c perfringens, bacteroides and prevotella

treat with antibiotics and surgical removal

Question 16

what disease does c perfringens produce, other than gangrene?

Answer 16

causes food poisoning by producing enterotoxin

Question 17

what disease is caused by c difficile? when is it usually transmitted?

Answer 17

pseudomembranous colitis

occurs after antibiotic use and it is often nosocomial

Question 18

how should C difficile be treated?

Answer 18

change the antibiotic and intervene surgically if necessary.

Question 19

what symptoms are caused by actinomyces?

Answer 19

produdces nodules containing pus with sulfur granules near the mouth or in the colon

Question 20

how should actinomyces be treated?

Answer 20

with penicillin. surgical care is usually necessary as well.