Bacterial Infections Flashcards
What signs suggest pharyngitis has a bacterial cause?
- Fever in past 24 hrs
- rapid attendance (within 3 days or less of 1st symptoms)
- muscle aches
- absence of cough
- severely inflamed tonsils (with visible pus, not just red)
- Enlarged anterior cervical glands
(more than 4 of these means probably bacterial
What viruses can cause pharyngitis and how is it managed?
- adenovirus, influenza virus, EBV, Rhinovirus (common cold)
- usually let limiting so manage supportivly
What bacteria most commonly cause pharyngitis ?
Streptococcus pyogenes
What organisms commonly cause meningitis?
strep pneumonia
neisseria meningitidis
haemophilus influenzae type b
some viruses- less severe
What are the features of neisseria meningitidis on a gram stain?
- gram negative (red)
- diplococcus
How is neisseria meningitidis spread?
by respiratory secretions- coughing ect
Is neisseria meningitidis encapsulated?
yes
What are the key virulence factors of neisseria meningitidis?
- pilus- enhances attachment
- polysaccharide capsule- promotes adherence and evades phagocytes
- lipopolysaccharide endotoxin- triggers inflammation
What antibiotic is used to treat meninigitis and why?
ceftriaxone
- active against pathogens that usually causes menigitis in late teens
- penetrates into CSF well
- can be administered IV
What tests would be conducted when meningitis is suspected ?
- lumbar puncture and PCR to find causative organism (if appropriate)
- FBCs- are WBC higher
- U&E- check renal function
- CRP- marker of severity of inflammation
- coagulation studies- checks liver function
- blood gases - lactic acidosis?
- liver function- AST, ALT ect
- blood sugar- ensure its high enough
Which strain of neisseria meningitidis is most common in UK?
- group B
What are the key features of a septic strep. pneumoniae infection?
- yellow sputum
- short of breath
- cough
- chest crackles
- fluid on chest x ray
What are the key features of a septic E. coli infection?
- peritonitis
- abdo pain
- bowl gas seen on xray under diaphragm
In what population are UTIs most common?
sexually active females
What are the common causative organisms of UTIs?
- 70- 95% caused by e. coli
- rest usually staph. Saprophyticus (gram +)
How are UTIs treated?
- trimethoprim
What organism commmonly causes infective endocarditis, what are its key features on a gram stain and how does it enter the blood?
- viridans steptococcus (also staph aureus)
- gram + coccus in chains
- usually through cuts in gums
How does infective endocarditis occur?
- bacteria get into blood
- heart valve faulty causing stagnant blood
- bacteria stay there longer so able to infect valve and endocardium
What is the common presentation of someone with infective endocarditis?
- high fever
- weight loss
- generally unwell
- cardiac symptoms (murmer ect)
- history of heart valve problems
- high WBC, low Hb (haemolytic anaemia), high CRP
What are the key features of all streptococci on a gram stain?
gram + cocci in chains
What are the 3 main groups of streptococci? Describe each group and give an example
alpha haemolysis
- partially break down RBCs and produce a green colour on red agar
- known as viridans streptococcus
- most common example is strep. pneumoniae
beta haemolysis
- fully breakdown RBCs and clear a zone around them on red agar
- strep pyogenes
Non- haemolytic
- enterococcus faecalis
How can beta haemolytic streptococci be classified?
- by cell wall antigens (lancefield)- A,B,C ect
- by sherman group (pyogenic, viridans, enterococcal, lactic)
what is another name for strep. pyogenes?
- group A, beta hamolytic streptococci
What disease is the most common result of a strep. pyogenes infection?
- strep throat (streptococcal pharyngitis)
How do strep. pyogenes spread and what are the different possible outcomes of infection?
- spread by droplets (short range) or break through skin
- colonisation with no harm
- just secrete toxins (pharyngitis)
- invade blood stream (septicaemia)
- spread to subcutaneous tissue (cellulitis), fasica (fascaeitis) and muscle (myonecrosis)
Describe 3 endotoxins that act as virulence factors for strep. pyogenes?
- hyaluronic capsule: inhibits phagocytosis
- M protein: resists phagocytosis, complement and aids adhesion
- Adhesins: helps colonise
describe 2 key exotoxins and state 2 others that are released by strep. pyogenes
- DNAases
- hyaluronidase
- streptakinas (dissolves clots)
- streptacoccal pyrogenic exotoxin-causes toxic shock syndrome
In what age group is strep throat most common?
5-15 yrs old
Describe the key features of strep throat
- abrupt onset of mild sore throat (severe sore throats more likely to be viral)
- fever
- headache
- enlarged lymphoid tissue with tonsil exudate and pus
How is strep throat treated?
supportively
no antibiotics because its self limiting - could use flucoxacillin