Bacillus, Clostridium, Corynebacterium and Listeria

Question 1

Spore forming gram+ve rods

Answer 1

Bacillus
Clostridium

Question 2

Non spore forming gram+ve rods

Answer 2

Corynebacterium
Listeria

Question 3

Transmission of bacillus anthracis

Answer 3

Via skin, inhalation or ingestion
Also contracted from contaminated products made of hide and goat hair

Question 4

Bacillus anthracis causes

Answer 4

Anthrax

Question 5

Bacillus cereus causes

Answer 5

Gastroenteritis (food poisoning)

Question 6

Proteins of b.anthracis exotoxin

Answer 6

Protective antigen
Edema factor
Lethal factor

Question 7

Function of protective antigen

Answer 7

Promotes entry of EF into phagocytic cells

Question 8

Function of edema factor

Answer 8

Increases cAMP, which impairs neutrophils function and causes massive edema

Question 9

Function of lethal factor

Answer 9

Stimulates the macrophages to release TNFα and IL-1β, which contributes to death in anthrax

Question 10

Types of b.cereus enterotoxins

Answer 10

Heat labile
Heat stable

Question 11

Heat labile enterotoxin food poisoning?

Answer 11

Nausea, abd pain and diarrhoea lasting 12-24h

Question 12

Heat stable enterotoxin food poisoning?

Answer 12

Short incubation period followed by severe nausea and vomiting with limited diarrhoea lasting 4h

Question 13

Clostridium tetani transmission

Answer 13

Spores at transmitted by soil at wound site

Question 14

Tetanus triad

Answer 14

Risus sardonicus (grin caused by facial muscle spasm)
Trismus (mild to severe spasm of lower jaw-lock jaw)
Opisthotonos (severe simultaneous spasm of all muscles)

Question 15

Clostridium botulinum transmission

Answer 15

Spores through soil, vegetables and meat
Vacuum packed food items without sterilization

Question 16

Forms of botulism

Answer 16

Food-borne (within preserved/processed food)
Wound (within abscessed wounds)
Intestinal (within intestinal lumen)
Inhalation (man-made form of toxin)

Question 17

Floppy baby syndrome?

Answer 17

Infants ingest food contaminated with C.botulinum spores (fresh honey). Intestinal colonization leads to production of toxin.

Question 18

Infant botulism

Answer 18

Constipation
Flaccid paralysis
Floppy baby

Question 19

Toxin of clostridium botulinum

Answer 19

Neurotoxin: inhibits release of Ach from peripheral nerves

Question 20

Food borne botulism

Answer 20

GI prodromal symptoms
Cranial nerve paralysis
Muscle weakness
Respiratory paralysis

Question 21

Clostridium perfringens causes

Answer 21

Gas gangrene and food poisoning

Question 22

C.perfringens toxin

Answer 22

Alpha lecithinase (damages the cell membrane of erythrocytes and causes hemolysis)

Question 23

Gaseous gangrene clinical

Answer 23

Cellulitis/wound infection
Clostridial myonecrosis
Blisters with gas bubbles near the infected area
Blackened skin with foul smelling discharge
Watery diarrhoea

Question 24

Clostridium difficile causes

Answer 24

Antibiotic associated pseudomembranous colitis

Question 25

C.difficile transmission

Answer 25

Fecal oral route

Question 26

Pseudomembranous colitis symptoms

Answer 26

Diarrhoea
Dehydration
Abdominal cramps
Fever
Nausea
Pus or mucus in stool

Question 27

Corynebacterium causes

Answer 27

Diphtheria

Question 28

Diphtheria clinical

Answer 28

Mild sore throat with fever
Swollen glands in the neck
Barking cough (pseudomembrane forms on the pharynx)
Racing heart (myocarditis)
Wheezing and difficulty breathing

Question 29

Listeria monocytogenes causes

Answer 29

Neonatal meningitis
Meningitis in immunocompromised and elderly
Septicaemia in pregnant women