ASCP Review Course Flashcards
What are the main organisms involved in bloodstream infections?
*S. aureus
*Coagulase-Negative Staph
*Streptococcus
*Enterococcus
*Enterobacteriaceae
*Pseudo aeruginosa
*Yeasts (candida, Crypto)
How many blood culture sets should be collected within a 24 hour period?
No more than 3 sets should be collected
-used to rule out contamination
-break in skin infection-> S. epidermiditis
What are the sources of fungal infections?
*superficial
*deep and systemic
*systemic
Where do superficial fungal infections occur?
Infect the skin, hair, nails
Where do deep & systemic fungal infections occur?
*respiratory tract
*bone
*tissue
Where do systemic fungal infections occur?
*blood
*bone marrow
What are the different groups of fungi?
*Dimorphic molds
*yeasts
*dermatophytes
*zygomycetes
*hyaline molds
*dermatiaceous molds
what are the different yeasts that cause infections?
*Candida
*Cryptococcus
*Malassezia
what are the different dimorphic molds that cause infections?
*Histoplasma
*Blastomyces
*Coccidoides
*Sporothrix
*Paracoccidoides
*Penicillium marneffei
What are the different dermatophytes that cause infections?
*Trichophyton
*Microsporum
*Epidermophyton
what are the different zygomycetes that cause infections?
*Mucor
*Rhizopus
what are the different hyaline (brightly colored) molds that cause infections?
*Aspergillus
*Fusarium
*Penicllium
what are the different dermatiaceous molds that cause infections?
*Alternaria
*Bipolaris
*Cladosporium
*Fonesecaea
What infections does C. dubiniensis cause?
oral candidacies
in HIV + patients
Where does C. albicans cause infections?
skin and mucosal areas:
mouth, vaginal tract, GI tract
How does Cryptococcus neoformins look on India ink?
looks like it has a halo
polysaccharide capsule
How is C. gatti distinguished from C. neoformins?
C. gatti grows on CGB agar, but C. neoformins does not
What does the hyaline mold Aspergillus fumigates look like?
blue-green colonies
grows after 3 days
is velvety and powdery
grows at 45C
What are the characteristics of Penicillium?
ends of conidiophore
branched and secondary branches
“brush-like” appearance
What are the characteristics of Fusarium?
“sickle/canoe” macroconidia
is lavender pink on UTMB/FIPSE
causes corneal eye infections
What are the characteristics of Alternaria?
has chaining macroconidia with longitudinal and transverse separations
saprophyte or contam
infections the nails and nasal sinuses
has a black pigment
(dermaticeous)
what are the characteristics of the dimorphic mold coccidoides immitis?
“barrel-shaped” arthrospores with alternating empty cells
grows in 3-5 days
causes pulmonary disease in hot, arid, dry parts of SW USA, Mexico, and South America
What are the characteristics of Histoplasma?
is the mold stage
has thick-walled macroconidia
is found in bird and bat droppings
has fluting
What are the characteristics of Bastomyces dermatitis?
“balloon on a string”
found in the Mississippi and Ohio river valleys
What are the characteristics of Sporothrix schenckii?
delicate macroconidia
introduced through the skin from a prick from a rose bush
what are the characteristics of M. canis?
has macroconidia that is “spindle-shaped”
rough, thick-walled
deep yellow pigment
what are the characteristics of M. gypseum?
buff tan color
powdery to granule
What are the characteristics of Trycophyton?
macroconidia on hyphae
round teardrop, peg-like
mature in 10-12 days
What are the characteristics of Rhizopus?
zygomycete
broad hyphae
nonseptate
sporangium
“cotton-candy”-like growth
what are the biochemical reactions of B. fragilis?
20% bile agar
KLVB growth
VANC = R
KANA = R
COLISITIN = R
INDOLE = (-)
What are the top 5 causes of meningitis?
*S. pneumo
*N. meningitidis
*H. influenzae
*E. coli
*L. monocytogenes
what are the pathogens in newborns?
<1 month old
S. agalactiae
E. coli
L. monocytogenes
what are the main pathogens in children and young adults?
S. pneumo
H. influenzae
N. meningitidis
what are the main pathogens of the immunosuppressed and elderly?
S. pneumo
L. monocytogenes
what are the normal parameters for CSF?
0-5 WBCs
lymphs and monos
50-75 GLUCOSE
15-45 PROTEIN
what are the acute parameters of meningitis?
> 1000 WBCs
neutrophils
GLUCOSE = decreased; 0-40
PROTEIN = increased; 100-500
what are the aseptic parameters of meningitis?
100-500 WBCs
lymphs
normal to slight decrease in GLUCOSE
normal to slight increase in PROTEIN
what are the symptoms of meningitis?
stiff neck
severe headaches
red petechiae
what are the biochemical reactions of N. meningitidis?
BAP = small gray colonies
CHOC = small, gray colonies
MAC = NG
ox +
cat +
glucose and maltose +
How is meningitis treated?
with 3rd generation cephalosporins
*Cefotaxime
*Ceftriaxone
