CHLAMYDIA Flashcards
What kind of pathogen is Chlamydia?
Intracellular bacteria
What are the different strains of Chlamydia?
-Chlamydia psittaci
-Chlamydia trachomatis
What does Chlamydia psittaci cause?
Atypical pneumonia (Community Acquired)
*high incidence in elderly
What causes C. pisittaci infection?
Exposure to infected birds
(incubation time is 5-14 days)
How does a C. pisittaci infection present?
Biphasic (two phases) with gradual onset
-Upper respiratory infection symptoms followed by pneumonia in 1-4 weeks (dry prolonged cough)
*Patients can range from asymptomatic to severe pneumonia
<50% have: photophobia, epistaxis (nose bleed), tinnitus, deafness, GI symptoms, arthralgia (joint pain)
What is the treatment for a C. psittaci infection?
-Macrolides: Azithromycin
-Doxycycline
-Quinolones: Levaquin, Moxifloxacin
What does Chlamydia trachomatis cause?
Chlamydia
*most reported STI
*most common cause of preventable blindness
How is C. trachomatis transmitted?
-Sexual contact
-Birth canal: mother to child
-Between children and caregivers
What is the pathogenesis of C. trachomatis?
-Repeated reinfection (can infect someone more than once, passed back and forth)
How would a C. trachomatis infection present?
-Urethritis (inflammation of urethra)
-Cevicitis (cervix inflammation)
-Pelvic inflammatory disease
-Epididymitis (inflamed scrotum)
-Proctitis (inflammation of rectum)
-Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
-Chronic keratoconjunctivitis (cornea and conjunctiva inflammation), can lead to blindness
How can a C. trachomatis infection be diagnosed?
Men: Urine PCR
Women: Cervical swab, Urine PCR
What is the treatment for a C. trachomatis infection?
-Azithromycin (1g orally)
-Doxycycline (for 7 days)
-Levofloxacin
-NO SEX FOR 7 DAYS
-USE CONDOMS to prevent transmission
*Erythromycin ointment in eyes of newborns used to protect any transmission in birth canal
