Chapter 20: Gram Negative Pathogenic Bacteria Flashcards
What are some general characteristics about gram negative pathogens?
Constitute largest group of human bacterial pathogens
Due in part to Lipid A in bacterial cell wall (triggers fever, vasodilation, inflammation, shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC))
Most Gram-negative bactera that breach skin or mucous membranes grow at 37 degrees Celsius
What is the only Gram negative cocci genus?
Neisseria
Nonmotile, aerobic bacteria, arranged as diplococci
Oxidase positive- distinguishes from many Gram-negative pathogens
Have fimbriae (adhesion), capsules (protect against phagocytosis), and vairable cell wall antigens composed of lipooligosaccharide
Fastidious in nature- grows on chocolate agar or Thayer-Martin agar
Two pathogenic species to humans- N. gonnorhoeae, N. meningitidis
What are the characteristics of Neisseria gonorrhoeae?
Causes gonorrhea
Gonococci adhere to the genital, urinary, and digestive tract via fimbriae and capsules, protected by secreting protease enzyme that cleaves IgA
Can survive inside phagocytic cells
Men- painful urination, pus-filled discharge
Women- asymptomation, PID, proctitis, gingivitis, and pharyngitis
In children- opthalmia neonatorum (during childbirth infection passed)
How is a Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection diagnosed, treated, and prevented?
Diagnosis- asymptomatic cases diagnosed with genetic probes, Gram-negative diplococci in pus, grow on Thayer-Martin media, ferments only glucose
Treatment- complicated due to resistant strains, broad-spectrum antibiotics like cephalosporins, long term immunity does not develop due to variable surface antigens
Prevention- abstinence, monogamy, proper use of condoms
What are some characteristics of Neisseria meningitidis?
13 antigenic strains cause disease; A,B,C, and W135 most common
Can survive in neutrophils and macrophages
Polysaccharide capsule resists lytic enzymes of phagocytosis
Causes blebbing- a process of shedding outer membrane
Can be normal microbiota of upper respiratory tract, transmitted by respiratory droplets
How is N. meningitidis pathogenic and what diseases does it cause?
Life-threatening when bacteria invade blood or CSF
Most common cause of meningitis in individuals under 20yrs
Bacteria transmitted among people living in close contact
Meningococca meningitis- death within 6 hours, abrupt sore throat, fever, headache, stiff neck, vomiting, and convulsions
Meningococcal septicemia (blood poisoning)- life threatening, petechiae- minute hemorrhagic skin lesions on trunk and lower extremities which can combine together to form black lesions
How is N. meningitidis infection diagnosed, treated, and prevented?
Diagnosis- gram negative diplococci in phagocytes of CNS, presence on antibodies against bacteria, ferments both glucose and maltose
Treatment- intravenous antibiotics like ceftiaxone, a cephalosporin
Prevention- asymptomatic carriers make eradication unlikely, vaccination against capsular strains of A,C,Y & W-135, NOT B STRAIN
What are the two families of pathogenic, Gram-negative bacteria that are facultatively anaerobic?
Two families contain most human pathogens
Enterobacteriaceae
Pasteurellaceae
Oxidase test distinguishes between these two families
Includes important nosocomial pathogens
What is the result of an oxidase test for the family Enterobacteriaeceae?
Negative- no purple color
What is the oxidase test result for the family Pasteurellaceae?
Positive- Purple
Give a brief overview of the Family Enterobacteriaceae?
Intestinal microbiota of most animals and humans
Ubiquitous in water, soil, and decaying vegetation
Enteric bacteria are the most common Gram-negative pathogens of humans
Some have capsules, others only have loose slime layer
What are the antigens and virulence factors typical of an enteric cell?
Antigens- K, H, and O
O- outer membrane, Lipid A
K- capsular antigens
H- flagellar antigens
Type III secretion system
Virulence factors: fimbria, exotoxin, adhesin, plasmid, iron-binding protein, hemolysin
How is an Enterobacteriaceae infection diagnosed, treated, and prevented?
Diagnosed- enteric bacteria in urine, blood, or CSF, use of selective and differential media, biochemical tests rapidly identify enteric bacteria
Treatment- Diarrhea is typically self-limited
Prevnetion- good personal hygiene and proper sewage control
What are the three groups that the Enterobacteriaceae family is broken into?
Colioforms- ferment lactose, normal microbiota but may be opportunistic pathogens
Noncoliforms- do not ferment lactose
True pathogens
What are some characteristics about Coliform Opportunists?
Aerorbic or faculatatively anaerobic, Gram-negative, rod shaped bacteria that ferment lactose
Can be diagnosed by growth on MacConkey’s agar of Eosin-Methylene blue agar
Commonly found in soil, on plants, and on decaying vegetation
Colonize the intestinal tract of animals and humans
Coliforms in water indictative of impure water and poor sewage treatment