Bacterial Virulence/Microbiology Flashcards
Virulence factor
Specific component of pathogen that causes disease
Staphylococcus tends to cause infection through what?
Sebaceous glands and hair follicles
Streptococcus tends to cause infection through what?
Damage in the skin
Why is staph aureus an effective pathogen?
It has many different virulence factors
Skin infections caused by staph aureus
Rash Folliculitis Abscess Carbuncle Impetigo Scalded skin syndrome
Toxinoses caused by staph aureus
Toxic shock
Scalded skin syndrome
Where is staph epidermidis usually found in the human body?
Skin and mucous membranes, as well as intestinal tract
When does staph epidermidis usually cause infection?
Tends not to cause infection unless person is immunocompromised, but can be associated with foreign devices associated with hospitals, e.g. catheters, cannula etc.
2 common sites for staph aureus
Nasal passages and perineum
Patients high risk for MRSA
Elderly and immunocompromised
Intensive care patients
Burns patients
Surgical patients
Toxinoses
Discrete disease associated with a single protein component, a toxin or exotoxin
Scalded skin syndrome:
- Which age group is it normally found in?
- Where does it usually occur on the body?
- True or false - it is self-limiting
It is normally found in neonates
It usually occurs on the face, axilla and groin
True - it is self-limiting
In scalded skin syndrome, which toxins target what?
ETA and ETB toxins target desmoglein-1
Why is skin continuously shed from the body in scalded skin syndrome?
The toxin interferes with keratin cross-bridges
True or false - TSST-1 which causes toxic shock syndrome has a slow progression
False - it has a rapid progression
Symptoms of toxic shock syndrome
High fever Vomiting Diarrhoea Sore throat Muscle pain
Superantigen
Type of antigen that results in excessive activation of the immune system - activate 1 in 5 T cells rather than 1 in 10,000
Example of superantigen
TSST-1
Diagnostic criteria for toxic shock syndrome
Fever 39˚
Diffuse macular rash and desquamation (“sunburn”)
Hypotension
≥3 organ systems involved
How long can it take for toxic shock syndrome to cause death
Hours
Adhesins
Extracellular matrix molecules that are present on epithelial, endothelial surfaces and as component of clots
Types of adhesins
Fibrinogen binding
Fibronectin binding
Collagen binding
Panton-Valentine Leukocidin has specific toxicity for which type of cell?
Leukocytes
What is necrotising pneumonia?
Severe complication of quite mild infections due to destruction of immune cells
What can necrotising pneumonia cause?
Respiratory distress and deterioration in pulmonary function
Refractory hypoxaemia
Multi-organ failure
(all despite antibiotic therapy)
Which protein is key for evasion of host defences for staph aureus?
Protein A
How does protein A cause evasion of host defences?
Protein A binds antibodies the wrong way round and interferes with the marking of the cell for destruction
Which bacteria causes impetigo?
Group A streptococci
Entry point for impetigo
Small defect in skin