classification of pathogenic bacteria, pathogens & host Flashcards
gram’s stain
- Quick, simple, inexpensive way to classify clinically important organisms - Provides an early indication of the genus of bacteria that may be causing infection ○ Combine knowledge from gram stain with morphology - Different species have varying capacity to cause disease (pathogenicity)Different classes of antibiotics are effective against gram +ve and -ve bacteria (targeted treatment)
cells wall differences in gram +ve vs -ve bacteria
Thick peptidoglycan layer in gram +ve Thin peptidoglycan layer, more complex cell wall, thick lipopolysaccharide layer in gram -ve
classification of gram +ve bacteria
stain purple2 major types of classification are aerobic/anaerobic or their morphology (cocci/bacilli) Chains - streptococcus Clusters - staphylococci Streptococcus - how do they grow on blood agar Partial/complete/no haemolysis
coagulase +ve gram +ve bacteria
staphylococcus aureus
staphylococcus aureus
○ Commensal organism carried in nose, axilla and perineum ○ Major human pathogen causing a wide range of disease boils/abscesses and soft tissue infections to septicaemia and osteomyelitis - Commonly penicillin resistant due to production of penicillinase- By a different mechanism, some strains are methicillin resistant MRSA poses major problems for infection prevention and control in hospitals
coagulase -ve gram +ve bacteria
- many different species (staphylococcus S. epidermis, S. haemolyticus, S. saprophyticus., S. lugdunensis - has many of the virulence factors of S. aureus)- Mainly skin commensals - can be pathogenic in the presence of foreign bodies or immunocompromised
alpha haemolytic streptococci
partial haemolysis - Turn blood agar green Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) Viridans streptococci
Streptococcus pneumoniae
alpha haemolytic pneumonia, meningitis, septicaemia Produces capsule to protect S. pneumoniae from the host so it cant be recognised as foreign
Viridans streptococci
○alpha haemolytic ○ Normal oral flora, cause infection in other areasCause of infective endocarditis
beta haemolytic streptococci
(complete haemolysis)Turn blood agar clearFurther identified by carbohydrate surface antigens: groups A-G), A,B,D,F clinically most important A. streptococcus pyogenesb. streptococcus agalactiaeD. Enterocossu faecalis, Enterococcus faecium
streptococcus pyogenes
group A beta haemolytic major pathogen - pharyngitis, cellulitis, necrotising fasciitis (skin and soft tissue infections, bone and joint infections and can lyse human muscle and connective tissue, can lead to sepsis)
streptococcus agalactiae,
group B beta haemolytic neonatal sepsis (meningitis, bacteraemia), genital tract carriage commoninvasive infections in adults often older and underlying factors e.g. diabetes, liver disease/alcohol abuse, CVD, malignancy )
enterococcus
group D beta haemolytic often non-haemolytic, enterococcus faecalis found in the gut as normal commensal, cause of UTI and infective endocarditis
classification of gram +ve bacilli
- Aerobic Anaerobic (grow only in the absence of oxygen)spore forming/non-spore forming
classification of gram +ve cocci
coagulase test blood agar culture - haemolysis
CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE
gram +ve bacilli - Asymptomatic gut carriage in healthy people - Important cause of diarrhoea, associated with toxin production and potentially fatal (toxins found in stool sample)- Increased risk with antibiotic use and anything else that disrupts the normal gut flora - Pseudomembranous colitis - inflammation of the large intestine - Spread/transmitted via spores
CLOSTRIDIUM PERFRINGENS
- gram +ve bacilli Found in soil and normal commensal in human and animal gut/faeces- Spread by spores- Can contaminate food and cause gastroenteritis (enterotoxin producing strains)Infects wounds and can cause gas gangrene
CLOSTRIDIUM TETANI
- gram +ve bacilli - Spread by spores- Toxin produced by C. tetani can produce tetanus ○ Uncontrolled muscle spasm Antigenically modified toxin (toxoid) used for immunisation
colonisation
bacteria grow on body sites exposed to the environment, without causing any infection. This is a normal process.
infection
presence of microorganisms causing damage to body tissues, usually in the presence of acute inflammation
gram -ve cocci
Neisseria meningitidis Neisseria gonorrhoeaeMoraxella catarrhalis
Neisseria meningitidis
gram -ve coccus meningitis and septicaemiaimportant when isolated from a sterile site (e.g. blood cultures or CSF, gram staining is very important to identify the bacteria here), PCR available on EDTA blood for N. meningitidis, often life threatening
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
gram -ve coccus causes urethritis in men and pelvic inflammatory disease in women, spread by sexual contact, causes gonorrhoea, identical appearance to Neisseria meningitidis on gram stain (differentiate by clinical findings)
Moraxella catarrhalis
gram -ve coccus causative agent of respiratory tract infections, especially in those with underlying lung pathology
what are coliforms
organisma which are in the family Enterobacteriaceae • Mainly commensals of the human large intestine (gut commensals) • Key example is E. coli Lactose fermentation is a useful preliminary test in classifying gram -ve bacilli (can use selective agar)
ESCHERICHIA COLI
-gram -ve bacilli Human and animal reservoirs160 serotypes, strains vary in terms of disease potential - Sexual virulence mechanisms: pili, capsule endotoxin and exotoxins - Major form of food borne infection- Ferments lactose- Important cause of UTI and septicaemia, also neonatal sepsis- enterotoxogenic and enterohaemorrhagicDon’t treat with antiobiotics - these could lead to more toxins being produced
SALMONELLA SPP.
-gram -ve bacilli - Major form of food borne infection- DOES NOT ferment lactose - Salmonella enterica: Self-limiting enterocolitis with or without bloody diarrhoea - 2nd commonest cause of bacterial diarrhoae in the UK - Can be invasive i.e. enters bloodstream
SALMONELLA TYPHI
- gram -ve bacilli Distinct from Salmonella enterica- Cause of typhoid fever - Fever, constipation early stagesfatal if untreated- Organism can be isolated from blood cultures as well as faecesRisk during foreign travel but vaccine available
curved gram -ve bacilli
Campylobacter sppHelicobacter pylorivibrio spp
Campylobacter spp.
curved gram -ve bacilli microaerophilic (likes low oxygen), source is domestic animals and chickens, spread via faecal-oral route, foul smelling –> bloody diarrhoea (incubation period 2-5 days), commonest cause of bacterial diarrhoea in UK , no vaccine currently, often seen in springtime, can enter the bloodstream, not treated with antibiotics unless very severe
Helicobacter pylori:
curved gram -ve bacilli natural habitat is human stomach, damages mucosa and causes ulcers, strong risk factor for gastric adenocarcinoma (oncogenic organism), treat to avoid future cancer risk
Haemophilus influenzae
gram -ve cocco-bacilli (mixed appearance), causes respiratory tract infection (2y to S, pneumoniae), capsulate for (type b) was formerly an important cause of meningitis in children, other no-typable forms of H. influenzae still able to cause meningitis