Clostridia Flashcards
Clostridium is strictly ____(aerobic/anaerobic) gram - ____(positive/negative) rod that produces ____.
anaerobic; positive; endospores
What is responsible for disease symptoms in clostridium patients?
proteinaceous toxins
what disease is caused by C. difficle?
pseudomembranous colitis
T/F. Clostridium is easy to culture.
False. “difficult clostridium”
Pseudomembranous colitis presents with yellow plaques containing ___ and ___ ___ in ulcers of colonic mucosa.
fibrin; cellular debris
What is the current leading cause of nosocomial diarrhea?
pseudomembranous colitis
How is pseudomembranous colitis transmitted?
endospore
T/F. C. difficile spores are resistant to antibiotics and when the spores vegetate the toxin production begins resulting in diarrhea.
True.
Does C. difficile invade the bowel wall?
no.
What two toxins does C. difficile produce?
enterotoxin (toxin A) and cytotoxin (toxin B)
Both toxins act in the ___ of host cells to glycosylate ___-binding proteins. This causes the cells to lose _____ structure and die.
cytoplasm; GTP; cytoskeletal
ELISA detection of which toxin is diagnostic?
Toxin A
where is C. perfringens found?
soil (except sahara desert) and intestinal tract
what are the four conditions that cause the spores of C. perfringens to germinate?
- anaerobic
- compromised blood supply
- calicum ions
- availability of peptides and amino acids
Toxins produced by C. perfringens cause ____ that can lead to ___ ___, a necrotizing, gas-forming process of muscle associated with system signs of shock.
cellulitis; gas gangrene
how many toxins does C. perfringens produce?
12
which toxin damages the cell membranes and cause gas gangrene?
alpha toxin (lecithinase)