Bacteria Flashcards
5 Morphologic characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus
Gram-positive cocci
Catalase+
Coagulase+
Beta-hemolytic
Mannitol fermenter (turns salt agar yellow)
Main virulence factor associated with Staph aureus — component of cell wall which binds Fc region of Abs and prevents complement activation thus preventing opsonization and phagocytosis
Protein A
What area of the body does Staph aureus tend to colonize?
Nares (nose)
What are the 5 inflammatory diseases caused by Staph Aureus?
- Post-viral bacterial pneumonia (patchy infiltrate on CXR)
- Septic arthritis (#1 cause)
- Large erythematous abscesses
- Rapid onset bacterial endocarditis (IV drug use, often tricuspid valve)
- Osteomyelitis in adults (#1 cause)
3 morphologic features of Staphylococcus epidermidis and saprophyticus
Gram+
Catalase+
Urease+
Coagulase -
What morphologic feature differentiates Staphylococcus aureus from Staph epidermidis and saprophyticus?
Staph aureus is coagulase+
Epidermidis and saprophyticus are coagulase -
What organism is a part of normal skin flora and tends to infect hardware, orthopedic joints, heart implants, catheters, etc.?
What virulence factor contributes to its ability to do this?
- Staphylococcus epidermidis
- Polysaccharide capsule: ability to form biofilms to stick to metal and plastic surfaces
What organism is associated with contamination of blood cultures?
Staph epidermidis
What is the major clinical manifestation of staphylococcus saprophyticus?
UTI’s in sexually active females (2nd most common cause to E.coli) “Honeymoon cystitis”
Morphologic features of streptococcus pyogenes (group A strep)
Gram+ cocci in chains
Microaerophilic
Hyaluronic acid capsule
Beta-hemolytic
5 Virulence factors associated with S. pyogenes (Group A strep)
M-protein (anti-phagocytic, humoral response - Abs to heart)
Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin
Streptolysin O
Streptokinase
DNA-ase
Clinical manifestations of strep pyogenes infection (note which ones are toxin-mediated vs. M-protein mediated)
Pyogenic infections:
Impetigo, strep throat, erysipelas, cellulitis
Toxin-mediated:
Scarlet fever, TSLS, Necrotizing fasciitis
M protein-mediated:
Rheumatic fever = polyarthritis, endocarditis (mitral valve), nodules on extensor surfaces, erythema marginatum, sydenham’s chorea [JONES]
Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis:
Facial edema, hematuria (“cola” colored urine), HTN
How would you test for a group A strep infection?
ASO antibody titer
3 symptoms of Scarlet fever?
Caused by what toxin?
- Strawberry tongue
- Pharyngitis
- Widespread rash that spares the face
- Caused by streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin (SPE)
Which superantigens mediate TSLS vs. Necrotizing fasciitis in strep pyogenes infections?
- TSLS = SpeA, SpeC
- Nec Fasc = SpeB
Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis tends to occur after what type of strep pyogenes infection(s)?
Either pharyngitis OR superficial infection like impetigo
Rheumatic fever tends to occur after what type of strep pyogenes infection(s)?
Pharyngitis only (NOT impetigo!)
What organism tends to cause serious infections in newborns, thus pregnant mothers should be swabbed at ~35 weeks?
Streptococcus agalactiae (group B strep)
Morphologic features of strep agalactiae and distinguishing tests?
Gram+ cocci in chains
Facultative anaerobe
Beta-hemolytic
Polysaccharide capsule
cAMP test + (increasing zone of hemolysis when plated w/ S. aureus)
Hippurate test +
Clinical manifestations of streptococcus agalactiae (Group B strep)
- Neonatal meningitis (no nuchal rigidity!) = #1 cause
- Strep throat (pharyngitis)
- Pneumonia
Morphologic features of streptococcus pneumoniae?
Gram + diplococci
Polysaccharide capsule = major VF
Alpha-hemolytic
Facultative anaerobe
Optochin-sensitive
Bile-soluble
Characteristic feature of otitis media caused by streptococcus pneumoniae
Bullous meringitis
Major virulence factors of strep pneumoniae?
- Polysaccharide capsule
- IgA protease = allows colonization and invasion of mucosa!
Diagnosis of strep pneumoniae involves the ____ reaction, which turns blue in the presence of strep pneumo
Quelling
1 cause of what conditions?
Clinical manifestations of streptococcus pneumoniae?
1 cause of MOPS:
- Meningitis
- Otitis media
- Pneumonia - often lower lobes, PMN-rich rust-colored sputum
- Sinusitis
Morphologic features of streptococcus viridans?
How to distinguish from Strep pneumoniae?
Gram+ cocci in chains
Facultative anaerobe
Alpha-hemolytic
Optochin-resistant (allows to distinguish from S. pneumonia)
Bile-resistant (allows to distinguish from S. pneumonia)
No capsule! (allows to distinguish from S. pneumonia)
Major virulence factor associated with streptococcus viridans?
Allows it to do what?
Extracellular dextrans —> adheres to platelets, especially in damaged heart valves (i.e., most often mitral valve)
Clinical manifestations of streptococcus viridans?
- Dental caries (strep mutans)
- Subacute bacterial endocarditis (only affects previously damaged heart valve — usually mitral valve) - Strep Sanguineous
Morphologic features of S. bovis
Gram+ cocci in chains
Facultative anaerobe
Usually gamma-hemolytic
Grows on bile (Bile resistant)
Clinical manifestations of S. bovis
Same as enterococcus:
- Subacute bacterial endocarditis
- UTI
- Biliary tract infection
S. bovis has a strong affilitation with what type of neoplasm?
Colorectal neoplasms
Morphologic features of Enterococcus faecalis and faecium?
- G+ cocci in chains
- Facultative anaerobe
- Usually gamma-hemolytic
- Grows on bile and 6.5% NaCl
- Hugely abx resistant (VRE), nosocomial infections
Morphologic features of Bacillus anthracis?
Gram+ rods in chains (unique!)
Protein capsule (poly-D-glutamate)
Aerobe (but can grow w/o O2 so is facultative anaerobe)
Spore-former
Differentiate the 2 toxins associated with bacillus anthracis
Lethal factor — protease exotoxin that stimulates macrophage release of TNF and IL-1B contributing to death
Edema factor — acts on adenylate cyclase to increase cAMP (intracellulary) —> massive edema (resists phagocytosis)
Complication of GI anthrax?
Necrosis of intestines –> vomiting, abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea
Characteristic lesion associated with cutaneous B. anthracis infection?
Black eschar with surrounding (ring) erythema
Describe pulmonary anthrax
Known as what disease?
X-ray finding and progression?
- Caused by spore inhalation (wool sorter’s disease)
- Nonspecific symptoms at first, progresses to mediastinal LNs —> MEDIASTINAL HEMORRHAGE
- Characteristic WIDENED mediastinum on CXR,
Characteristics of bacillus cereus?
Often seen in what condition, caused by?
Aerobic
Spore-forming
Motile
No capsule!
Food poisoning from reheating fried rice — vomiting and diarrhea (heat labile vs. heat stable toxin)
Oxygen-status of all clostridium species
Obligate anaerobes: cannot survive around O2
Morphologic features of Clostridium tetani
Gram+
Flagellated (H-Ag+)
Spore-forming
Describe tetanus toxin associated with Clostridium tetani and its MOA?
- Tetanospasmin - released from vegetated spores at puncture site, travels retograde, goes from peripheral motor nerves to spinal cord.
- Acts as a protease on SNARE, inhibiting GABA and Glycine (inhibitory NTs) —> muscle spasm (spastic paralysis)
Characteristic features of C. tetani infection
- Spastic paralysis leading to rigidity
- Rhesus sardonicus (lock jaw)
- Opisthotonus (exaggerated arching of back)
Morphologic fefatures of clostridium botulinum
Gram+
Obligate anaerobe (flourishes inside canned foods)
Flagellated (H-Ag)
Spore-former
Clinical features of C. botulinum infection in adults and infants?
Early sx’s?
Adults: DESCENDING flaccid paralysis (only affects PNS), starts with diplopia, ptosis as initial symptoms
Infants: floppy baby syndrome
Pathogenesis of C.botulinum infection in adults vs. infants
Adults: ingestion of preformed toxin (once it has germinated in improperly canned food), toxin then inhibits ACh nerves — toxin is a protease that attacks SNARE protein
Infants: ingest honey that contains SPORES
Morphologic features of Clostridium difficile
Gram+
Spore former
Motile (H-Ag)
Describe the 2 exotoxins associated with C.difficile and what they cause.
Exotoxin A = binds brush border — inflammation, cell death, and watery diarrhea
Exotoxin B = disrupts cytokskeleton integrity, by depolymerizing actin — enterocyte destruction and necrosis —> yellowish grey exudate called pseudomembranous colitis
How is C. difficile definitively diagnosed?
Look for TOXIN via PCR assay of stool
Morphologic features of Clostridium perfringens
Where is it found and associated with?
Gram+
Spore former
Non-motile! (found in dirt and soil - associated with combat wounds and motorcycle accidents)
Diseases associated with Clostridium perfringens and their pathogenesis
- Gas gangrene (myonecrosis) — crackling sound on palpation due to alpha-toxin lecithinase (phospholipase) that attacks PM leading to RBC hemolysis
- Food poisoning — late-onset watery diarrhea — ingest spores which then germinate in gut
Morphologic features of Corynebacterium diphtheriae?
Transmitted how?
- Gram+ rod, but non-spore forming
- Club-shaped (VERY pleomorphic)
- Bacteriophage-derived toxin (MUST be lysogenized)
- Facultative anaerobe
- Catalase+
- Aerosol transmission
Describe the Corynebacterium diphtheriae toxin MOA?
What must happen to the toxin for it to be active?
What are the clinical manifestations?
- Must first be lysogenized by a temperate bacteriophage!
- Acts by ribosylation — inhibits EF-2 to inhibit protein synthesis —> gray pseudomembrane formation over throat and tonsils
- Can cause airway obstruction and “Bull’s neck” LAD
- Other effects: myocarditis (A-V conduction block and dysrhythmia), local paralysis (starting in posterior oropharynx) d/t myelin damage
Diagnosis of C.diptheria requires plating on what media?
How would you differentiate toxic vs. nontoxic strains?
- Swab membranes and plate on Tellurite and Loeffler’s agar/media
- Differentiate strains based on Elek’s test
Morphologic characteristics of Listeria monocytogenes?
Gram+ bacilli
Beta-hemolytic
Motile via flagella (H-Ag) — “tumbling” motility
Catalase+
Facultative intracellular
Risks for contracting Listeria monocytogenes?
Prefers what type of enviornment?
- Can survive in cold environments — contaminates refrigerated items like milk and soft cheeses
- Pregnant women at risk - may lead to termination or disease in newborn, can give baby meningitis (meningitis also occurs in elderly with this)
What major VF allows L. monocytogenes to escape the phagolysosome?
Listeriolysin O
What conditions are associated with Moraxella catarrhalis infection?
- Otitis media in pediatric patients (<3 y/o)
- COPD exacerbations
- URIs in elderly
Morphologic features of Neisseria
- Gram-negative diploccoci
- Oxidase+
- Grows on chocolate agar, does NOT grow on blood agar
Since Neisseria cannot be grown on plain blood agar, what are the culture requirements for plating Neisseria?
Chocolate agar (heated blood agar)
VPN agar (Thayer Martin) = selective agar
Virulence factors associated with Neisseria?
Pilli — allow attachment to mucosa, antigenic variation
IgA protease — facilitates survival on mucosal surfaces Opa proteins
Which species of Neisseria is encapsulated (polysaccharide)?
How is it transmitted?
Where does it colonize first?
- Neisseria meningiditis
- Spread by respiratory droplets — first colonizes nasopharynx
Neisseria meningiditis ferments ____ and ______.
Most infections are caused by type _____ because it is not included in the vaccine.
_____ patients are at increased risk for this disease
- Glucose; maltose (only meningitidis ferments)
- Type B
- Asplenic and sickle cell
Neisseria meningitidis invades hematogenously leading to a massive immune response generated by what?
Leads to?,
- LOS proteins in envelope, which bleb off — causes inflammatory response –> increased permability –> leaky capillaries and hypovolemia
- Petechial rash indicative of thrombocytopenia (can lead to DIC) —> eventual hypovolemic shock
What is Waterhouse-Fridrichson syndrome?
Occurs due to infection with?
Occurs with Neisseria meningiditis — characterized by hemorrhage/infarction of adrenals
Morphologic features of Neisseria gonorrhoeae?
Ferments what?
- Gram-negative cocci
- Facultative intracellular (likes to infect PMNs)
- Note that it is NOT encapsulated,
- Only ferments glucose (unlike N.meningiditis which is encapsulated and ferments glucose+maltose)
Clinical manifestations in N.gonorrhoeae in males vs. females?
Can spread to the perineum and form?
Manifestations in the infant?
Males: urethritis, white purulent discharge —> prostatitis, orchitis
Females: can cause PID —> purulent white THICK discharge, scarring, infertility, ectopic pregnancy,
Fitz-Hugh Curtis syndrome (violin string adhesions on liver) = PID spread to peritoneum
Both may exhibit polyarthritis (knees, often ASYMMETRIC)
Note that it can also be passed to baby during delivery causing early onset conjunctivitis (5-7 days after birth)
Fast vs. slow lactose fermenters?
Fast: Klebsiella, E.coli, Enterobacter
Slow: Citrobacter, Serratia
What 3 bacteria are urease+?
1) Klebsiella pneumoniae
2) Proteus mirabilis
3) Helicobacter pylori
Which 2 bacteria exhibit the following diarrheal manifestation:
Lack of cell wall invasion — entertoxin release leads to watery diarrhea
- ETEC
- Vibrio cholerae
Which 3 bacteria exhibit the following diarrheal manifestation:
Invasion of intestinal epithelium — adhere, invade, toxin release —> system response results in local WBC infiltraton (leukocytes in stool), fever, and cell death causing blood diarrhea
Enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC)
Shigella
Salmonella enteriditis
Which 3 bacteria exhibit the following diarrheal manifestation:
Invasion of lymph nodes and bloodstream — WBC, RBC, abdominal pain; systemic response can lead to sepsis and bacteremia
1) S. typhi
2) Y. enterocolitica
3) C. jejuni
Describe characteristics of Enterobacter cloacae?
Ferments what?
Causes what infections?
Part of normal flora - cause pneumonia, UTI (multi-drug resistant nosocomial infections)
Ferments lactose (forms pink cultures on MacConkey agar)
Motile
Describe characteristics of Serratia marcescens infection?
Morphologic and lab characterisitcs?
- Often infects wounds, causes pneumonia, UTIs (multi-drug resistant nosocomial infections)
- Catalase positive
- Very motile
- Red pigment on culture
Klebsiella pneumoniae is an enteric with the potential to cause pneumonia, UTI, etc. and like other enterics, ferments lactose. What are the other morphologic features of Klebsiella?
Polysaccharide capsule (O-Ag)
Immotile (unique!)
Urease+
Characteristic findings for someone with a Klebsiella pneumonia?
What is seen on CXR?
- Bulging fissure on CXR
- Currant jelly-thick sputum
- Cavitary lesions — may originally suspect Tb