Clinical Microbiology Flashcards
What are the main actions of antibiotics?
- Inhibit cell wall formation
- Inhibit protein synthesis
- Inhibit DNA synthesis
- Inhibit RNA synthesis
Give some examples of antibiotics that inhibit cell wall formation?
penicillin
cephalosporins
Give some examples of antibiotics that inhibit protein synthesis?
aminoglycosides (cause misreading of mRNA)
chloramphenicol
macrolides (e.g. erythromycin)
tetracyclines
fusidic acid
Give some examples of antibiotics that inhibit DNA synthesis?
quinolones (e.g. ciprofloxacin)
metronidazole
sulphonamides
trimethoprim
Give some examples of antibiotics that inhibit RNA synthesis?
rifampicin
Features of campylobacter jejuni?
-Most common cause of acute infective diarrhoea
-Spiral, gram negative rods
-Usually infects caecum and terminal ileum.
-Local lymphadenopathy is common
-May mimic appendicitis as it has marked right iliac fossa pain
-Reactive arthritis is seen in 1-2% of cases
Features of shigella spp.?
-Members of the enterobacteriaceae
-Gram negative bacillii
-Clinically causes dysentery
-Shigella soneii is the commonest infective organism (mild illness)
-Usually self limiting, ciprofloxacin may be required if individual is in a high risk group
Features of salmonella?
-Facultatively anaerobic, gram negative, enterobacteriaceae
-Infective dose varies according to subtype
Salmonellosis: usually transmitted by infected meat (especially poultry) and eggs
Features of E.coli?
MAIN TYPES:
-Enteropathogenic
-Enteroinvasive: dysentery, large bowel necrosis/ulcers
-Enterotoxigenic: small intestine, travelers diarrhoea
-Enterohaemorrhagic: 0157, cause a haemorrhagic colitis, haemolytic uraemic syndrome and thrombotic thrombocytopaenic purpura
Features of yersinia enterocolitica?
-Gram negative, coccobacilli
-Typically produces a protracted terminal ileitis that may mimic Crohns disease
-Differential diagnosis acute appendicitis
-May progress to septicaemia in susceptible individuals
-Usually sensitive to quinolone or tetracycline
What are the features of vibrio cholera?
-Short, gram negative rods
-Transmitted by contaminated water, seafood
-Symptoms include sudden onset of effortless vomiting and profuse watery diarrhoea
-Correction of fluid and electrolyte losses are the mainstay of treatment
-Most cases will resolve, antibiotics are not generally indicated
what are typhoid and paratyphoid caused by?
Salmonella typhi and Salmonella paratyphi (types A, B & C) respectively
Symptoms of typhoid/paratyphoid?
- initially systemic upset
- relative bradycardia
- abdominal pain, distension
constipation: although
Salmonella is a recognised cause of diarrhoea, constipation is more common in typhoid - rose spots: present on the trunk in 40% of patients, and are more common in paratyphoid
Complications of typhoid/paratyphoid?
- osteomyelitis (especially in sickle cell disease where Salmonella is one of the most common pathogens)
- GI bleed/perforation
- meningitis
- cholecystitis
- chronic carriage (1%, more likely if adult females)
What is Streptococcus bovis septicaemia associated with?
carcinoma of the colon
(also endocarditis)
gram +VE
Features of S.Aureus?
Facultative anaerobe
Gram positive coccus
Haemolysis on blood agar plates
Catalase positive
What can S.Aureus cause?
cutaneous infections
abscesses
Exo and entero toxin may result in toxic shock syndrome and gastroenteritis respectively
Ideal treatment of S.Aureus?
penicillins although many strains now resistant
Features of S.pyogenes?
Gram positive, forms chain like colonies, Lancefield Group A Streptococcus
Produces beta haemolysis on blood agar plates
Rarely part of normal skin microflora
Catalase negative
Treatment of S.Pyogenes?
penicillin, macrolides may be used as an alternative
What does S.pyogenes release?
proteins/ virulence factors: hyaluronidase, streptokinase which allow rapid tissue destruction
Superantigens such as pyogenic exotoxin A which results in scarlet fever
What does H.pylori release?
urease that breaks down gastric urea> Carbon dioxide and ammonia> ammonium>bicarbonate
Produces hydrogenase that can derive energy from hydrogen released by intestinal bacteria