Classes of bacteria based on living requirements

Question 1

List the obligate aerobes

Hint: there is a mnemonic

Answer 1

• Nocardia
• Pseudamonas aeruginosa
• Myocaterium TB
• Bacillus

“Nagging Pests Must Breathe”

Question 2

P. aeruginosa is and aerobe that is seen where?

Answer 2

Burn wounds
Complications of DM
Nosocomial Pneumonia
Pneumonias in CF

Question 3

Reactivation of M. TB likes to go where in the body?

Answer 3

the apices of the lung - where there is the most oxygen, since it is an obligate aerobe

Question 4

List the Obligate anaerobes

Hint: there is a mnemonic

Answer 4

• Clostridium
• Baceteroids
• Actinomyces

“Anaerobes Can’t Breath Air”

Question 5

What are some characteristics of obligate anaerobes?

Answer 5

catalase (-)
Superoxide Dismutase (-)
Are susceptible to oxidative damage
Generally foul smelling due to short chain FA
Hard to culture
Can produce gas in tissue (Ka-BOOM!): CO2 and H2

Question 6

Where are anaerobes, if found, considered physiological? pathological?

Answer 6

Normal to have anaerobes in the GI tract

Abnormal anywhere else

Question 7

What ABx is impotent against anaerobes?

Answer 7

Aminoglycosides –> they require O2 to enter a bacterial cell

Question 8

List the obligate intracellular bugs

Why are they obligates?

(Hint: there is a mnemonic)

Answer 8

• Rickettsia
• Chlamydia
  They CANNOT make their own ATP

“Stay inside (cells) when it is Really Cold”

Question 9

List the Facultative intracellular bugs

Hint: there is a mnemonic

Answer 9

"Some Nasty Bugs May Live FacultativeLY"
S = Salmonella
N = Neisseria
B = Brucella
M = Mycobacterium
L = Listeria
F = Francisella
L = Legionella
Y = Yersenia Pestis

Question 10

What is a “Quellung Reaction”, and what does it mean if we say it is positive?

Answer 10

A “Quellung Reaction” = Capsular “Swellung”

If an encapsulated organism is present, the capsules will swell when anti-capsular anti-sera is added to the mix.

Question 11

List Encapsulated Bacteria:

Hint: there is a mnemonic

Answer 11

"SHiNE SKiS"
S = Streptococcus pneumoniae
H = Haemophilus influenzae
N = Neisseria meningitidis
E = E. coli
S = Salmonella
K = Klebsiella pneumoniae
S = Group B Strep

Question 12

List the Catalase Positive organisms

Hint: there is a mnemonic

Answer 12

"You need PLACESS for your cats"
P = Pseudomonas
L = Listeria
A = Aspergillis
C = Candida
E = E. Coli
S = S. aureus 
S = Serratia

Question 13

What is Catalase?

Answer 13

Catalase degrades H2O2, a precursor to the oxidative burst of WBCs, before it can be made into an ROS by Myeloperoxidase

Question 14

In what deficiency do you see a high incidence of catalase (+) infections?

Answer 14

NADPH Oxidase Deficiency –> Chronic Granulomatous Disease

They lack the ability to make ROS

Question 15

List the Urease (+) bugs

Hint: there is a mnemonic

Answer 15

"CHuck Norris hates PUNKSS"
C = Cryptococcus
H = H. Pylori
P = Proteus
U = Ureaplasma
N = Nocardia
K = Klebsiella
S = S. epidermis
S = S. saprophyticus

Question 16

List the Pigment Producing bugs (4)

Hint: there is a mnemonic

Answer 16

1. Actinomyces israelii = Yellow “sulfur” granules, that are composed of the filaments of the bacteria
   Mnemonic: “Isreal has Yellow Sand”
2. S. aureus - Yellow Pigment
   Mnemonic “Aureus in latin = Gold”
3. Pseudomonas aeruginosa = Blue-Green Pigment
   Mnemonic: “Aerugula is Green”
4. Serratia marcescens = Red pigment
   Mnemonic: Serratia marcescens - Think Maraschino cherries