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Bacteria: Gram Positive Bacilli Flashcards

1
Q

List the Gram Positive Bacilli

A
  1. Bacillus Anthracis
  2. Bacillus Cereus
  3. Clostridium Tetani
  4. Clostridium Botulinim
  5. Clostridium Difficile
  6. Clostridium Perfingens
  7. Corynebacterium Diphtheriae
  8. Listeria Monocytogenes
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2
Q

Bacillus anthracis is a

A
  1. gram-positive
  2. spore-forming
  3. bacillus
  4. chains
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3
Q

Cutaneous anthrax

A

(the most common manifestation of Bacillus anthracis infection) presents with an area of central necrosis with surrounding erythema, edema, and eschar formation

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4
Q

Bacillus anthracis and cereus bacteria are

A

gram-positive bacilli that occur in chains

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5
Q

The capsule of Bacillus anthracis is composed of

A

poly-γ-D-glutamic acid (a polypeptide)

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6
Q

Bacillus anthracis needs

A

oxygen to sporulate (but can make ATP with and without oxygen; ie, aerobic or facultatively anaerobic)

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7
Q

Bacillus anthracis and cereus bacteria have

A

the ability to form metabolically inactive spores, which are resistant to decontaminants such as heat, chemicals, and radiation

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8
Q

The edema factor exotoxin of Bacillus anthracis

A

mimics adenylate cyclase → increase in cAMP → edema and dysfunction of phagocytes

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9
Q

The lethal factor exotoxin of Bacillus anthracis is

A
  1. a protease that cleaves mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) → apoptosis, tissue necrosis multisystem physiologic disruption, and death
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10
Q

The lethal factor exotoxin of Bacillus anthracis is responsible for

A

the tissue necrosis seen in cutaneous anthrax

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11
Q

Wool sorters

A

are historically associated with pulmonary anthrax/inhalation anthrax (woolsorters’ disease) due to inhalation of Bacillus anthracis spores carried in animal wool (though this form of anthrax is rare in developed countries)

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12
Q

Pulmonary anthrax/inhalation anthrax primarily manifests as

A

hemorrhagic mediastinitis with bloody pleural effusions

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13
Q

Chest X-ray of patients with hemorrhagic mediastinitis from pulmonary anthrax/inhalation anthrax may show a

A

widened mediastinum or pleural effusions

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14
Q

_______ are effective against Bacillus anthracis

A
  1. fluoroquinolones

2. doxycycline

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15
Q

Bacillus cereus

A

ingestion of Bacillus cereus preformed toxin (classically associated with reheated rice) can cause early onset food poisoning → nausea/vomiting (early onset, within 6 hours) or watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps (onset within 6 to 15 hours)

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16
Q

Bacillus cereus is a

A
  1. gram-positive
  2. spore-forming
  3. bacillus
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17
Q

Bacillus cereus infection is classically associated with

A

reheated rice (warm temperatures → spore germination → enterotoxin production (preformed toxin)→ early onset food poisoning)

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18
Q

Clostridium tetani is

A
  1. gram-positive
  2. spore-forming
  3. bacillus
  4. obligate anaerobes
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19
Q

Clostridium tetani bacteria have the ability to

A

form metabolically inactive spores, which are resistant to environmental decontaminants such as heat, chemicals, and radiation

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20
Q

Clostridium tetani infection is classically associated with

A
  1. puncture wounds from barbed wire

2. puncture wounds from rusty nails

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21
Q

The metabolically inactive spores of Clostridium tetani are

A

ubiquitous in soil

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22
Q

The classic findings in tetanus include

A

trismus (a spastic paralysis of the jaw muscles (lockjaw)), and risus sardonicus (continuous contraction of the facial muscles resulting in an “evil smile” appearance)

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23
Q

The spasmodic contraction seen in tetanus can

A

extend to the neck and back → opisthotonos (backward arching of the head, neck, and spine)

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24
Q

The tetanus toxin of Clostridium tetani

A
  1. travels via retrograde axonal transport to the spinal cord
  2. protease that cleaves SNARE proteins
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25
Tetanus toxin is called
tetanospasmin
26
The tetanus toxin (tetanospasmin) of Clostridium tetani functions to
the tetanus toxin (tetanospasmin) of Clostridium tetani cleaves SNARE proteins → inhibition of GABA and glycine release (inhibitory neurotransmitters) from Renshaw cells in the spinal cord→ muscle spasms, spastic paralysis, and hyperreflexia
27
The tetanus toxin (tetanospasmin) of Clostridium tetani acts on
the tetanus toxin (tetanospasmin) of Clostridium tetani acts on Renshaw cells (inhibitory interneurons in grey matter of the spinal cord) → inhibition of GABA and glycine release → muscle spasms, spastic paralysis, and hyperreflexia
28
Prevention of tetanus includes
administration of tetanus vaccine, which consists of deactivated tetanus toxin (often given with the diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP))
29
Clostridium botulinum is
1. gram-positive 2. spore-forming 3. bacillus 4. obligate anaerobes
30
The anaerobic environment of improperly canned food allows
spore germination and growth of Clostridium botulinum
31
Clostridium botulinum bacteria have the
ability to form metabolically inactive spores, which are resistant to environmental decontaminants such as heat, chemicals, and radiation
32
Clostridium botulinum can cause
a descending flaccid paralysis (due to production of botulinum toxin) starting from the cranial nerves
33
Clostridium botulinum can cause a descending flaccid paralysis due to
production of botulinum toxin
34
Clostridium botulinum can cause a descending flaccid that may first affect
the eyes, causing ptosis and diplopia
35
Botulinum toxin of Clostridium Botulinum is a
botulinum toxin of Clostridium botulinum is a protease that cleaves SNARE → inhibition of presynaptic release of acetylcholine (an excitatory neurotransmitter) at the neuromuscular junction → flaccid paralysis
36
Infant botulism results from
ingestion of spores, which are able to colonize the GI tract of infants due to a not yet fully developed GI flora (in contrast to adults, who contract botulism from eating preformed toxin)
37
Honey
honey is frequently contaminated with Clostridium botulinum spores and it is advised that infants are not allowed to consume honey until they are at least 12 months of age
38
Clostridium difficile is
1. gram-positive 2. spore-forming 3. bacillus 4. obligate anaerobes
39
Clostridium difficile bacteria have the ability to
form metabolically inactive spores, which are resistant to environmental stressors such as heat, chemicals, and radiation
40
_______ is the most significant risk factor for Clostridium difficile infection
prior exposure to antibiotics (particularly clindamycin) is the most significant risk factor for Clostridium difficile infection
41
Prevention of Clostridium Difficile
contact precaution and infection control measures (hand hygiene with soap and water, use of gloves) help prevent spread of Clostridium difficile (and is especially important for protection of patients who are taking antibiotics, such and clindamycin)
42
toxin A (enterotoxin) of Clostridium difficile
toxin A (enterotoxin) of Clostridium difficile binds the brush border membranes of the gut → damage to the mucosal lining of the colon → diarrhea
43
Clostridium difficile can cause
watery diarrhea (often with abdominal pain, fever, and leukocytosis)
44
Toxin B (cytotoxin) of Clostridium difficile
1. toxin B (cytotoxin) of Clostridium difficile disrupts the cytoskeleton via actin depolymerization → necrosis of colonic mucosal surfaces → pseudomembrane formation 2. toxin B (cytotoxin) of Clostridium difficile causes pseudomembrane formation (toxin B disrupts the cytoskeleton via actin depolymerization → necrosis of colonic mucosal surfaces → pseudomembrane formation)
45
Diagnosis of Clostridium difficile infection can be made by
detection of its toxins (A and B) in the stool
46
_____ is effective against Clostridium difficile
1. oral vancomyocin | 2. metronidazole
47
Clostridium perfringens is
1. gram-positive 2. spore-forming 3. bacillus 4. obligate anaerobe
48
Clostridium perfringens infection is associated with
military combat wounds
49
Clostridium perfringens bacteria have the ability to
form metabolically inactive spores, which are resistant to decontaminants such as heat, chemicals, and radiation
50
the metabolically inactive spores of Clostridium perfringens are
ubiquitous in soil
51
Clostridium perfringens can cause
necrotizing skin and soft tissue infection, which can progress to myonecrosis and gas gangrene
52
The alpha toxin of Clostridium perfringens
1. the alpha toxin of Clostridium perfringens is a lecithinase that cleaves lecithin (a phospholipid) molecules of phospholipid complexes → damage to cell membranes → myonecrosis and hemolysis 2. the alpha toxin of Clostridium perfringens is a lecithinase that cleaves lecithin (a phospholipid) molecules of phospholipid complexes → damage to cell membranes → hemolysis
53
Clostridium perfringens produces a
double zone of beta-hemolysis when plated on blood agar (both the alpha and theta toxin of Clostridium perfringens have hemolytic activity)
54
The first-line treatment for Clostridium perfringens tissue infection is
surgical debridement and administration of antimicrobials, particularly penicillin
55
Ingestion of a large quantity of Clostridium perfringens spores can cause
late-onset food poisoning, characterized by watery diarrhea
56
Corynebacterium diphtheriae bacteria
1. gram positive 2. bacillus 3. form V or Y shaped chains
57
The cytoplasm of Corynebacterium diphtheriae contains
metachromatic granules that stain with aniline dyes (the metachromatic granules stain red while the remainder of the bacillus stains blue)
58
Diptheria Toxin of Corynebacterium diptheriae
1. diphtheria toxin of Corynebacterium diphtheriae inhibits elongation factor-2 by ADP ribosylation (a mechanism similar to that of exotoxin A of Pseudomonas aeruginosa) 2. the diphtheria toxin of Corynebacterium diphtheriae causes cell necrosis → dense, grey tonsillar/pharyngeal pseudomembrane formation
59
Laryngeal diphtheria can
lead to severe lymphadenopathy → characteristic swelling of the neck known as “bull neck”
60
Corynebacterium diphtheriae is transmitted via
respiratory droplets
61
Presence of the diphtheria toxin of Corynebacterium diphtheriae in the bloodstream can result in
cardiac toxicity → myocarditis, arrhythmia, and heart failure
62
The diphtheria toxin of Corynebacterium diphtheriae can cause
nerve damage (demyelination) → paralysis that typically begins in the posterior pharyngeal wall and soft palate
63
Corynebacterium diphtheriae will grow as
dark black colonies on cystine-tellurite agar
64
Corynebacterium diphtheriae can be cultured in
Loeffler's medium (where it develops metachromatic granules seen in the cytoplasm after staining with an aniline dye)
65
The ELEK test is used to differentiate
toxigenic from nontoxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae
66
The Corynebacterium diphtheriae toxoid vaccine is
typically only administered in developed countries and consists of inactivated diphtheria exotoxin (often given with the tetanus toxoid and acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP))
67
Listeria Monocytogenes
1. gram positive 2. Bacillus 3. facultative intracellular pathogens 4. catalase positive
68
Listeria monocytogenes colonies are
weakly beta-hemolytic (surrounded by a small zone of complete hemolysis when plated on blood agar)
69
Listeria monocytogenes bacteria exhibit
tumbling motility in broth
70
Listeria monocytogenes bacteria form
“rocket tails” via actin polymerization that allow movement within and between host cells
71
Listeria monocytogenes bacteria are able to
grow in temperatures as low as 0°C and exhibit motility at temperatures between 22-27°C
72
Listeriosis outbreaks are associated with
dairy products like milk, soft cheese, and ice cream
73
the incidence of listeriosis is significantly higher in
pregnant women
74
Listeria monocytogenes is the third most common cause of
neonatal meningitis (following Streptococcus agalactiae (group B strep) and E. coli)
75
Listeria monocytogenes is a common cause of
meningitis in adults over 60 and immunocompromised patients
76
___ is effective against Listeria monocytogenes
ampicillin

Sketchy Medical (46 decks)

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