Clostridium

Question 1

Clostridium characteristics

Answer 1

Anaerobic
Gram + rods
Produces ENDOSPORES
Produces proteinaceous toxins

Question 2

Clostridium species (4)

Answer 2

C. difficile
C. perfringens
C. botulinum
C. tetani

Question 3

What is the leading cause of Nosocomial Diarrhea

Answer 3

C. difficile

Question 4

What is very difficult to culture

Answer 4

C. difficile

Question 5

What are the toxins that C. difficile produces

Answer 5

Toxin A: Enterotoxin
Toxin B: Cytotoxin
Both act in the cytoplasm of host to glycosylate GTP - cells lose cytoskeleton and die

Question 6

Toxin A

Answer 6

Enterotoxin- produces fluid, damages mucosa

Question 7

Toxin B

Answer 7

Cytotoxin- rounding of cells

Question 8

What is the major wound pathogen

Answer 8

C. perfringens

Question 9

Which clostridium species causes gangrene and muscle damage

Answer 9

C. perfringens

Question 10

C perfringens toxins and effect

Answer 10

Produces 12 toxins:
Alpha toxin (lecithinase)- damages cell membrane
Enterotoxin- when food poisoning

Question 11

C. botulinum types

Answer 11

Food borne
Wound
Infant

Question 12

C. botulinum toxins and effect

Answer 12

Produces 8 toxins- serotype A-G

Prevents release of Neurotransmitter- acetylcholine- get flaccid paralysis

Question 13

What is affected first in C. botulinum

Answer 13

CN’s affected first then respiratory paralysis

Question 14

C. tetani major toxin

Answer 14

Tetanospasmin:
Heavy chain and light chain connected by disulfide bridge but individually nontoxic
Inhibits NT release- spastic release and reflex spasm

Question 15

General effect of C. tetani

Answer 15

Trismus- lock jaw

Question 16

Advanced effect of C. tetani

Answer 16

Opisthutonus- body flex

Question 17

Treatment of C. tetani:

Answer 17

DPT vaccine- Diptheria, petrussis, tetanus

Question 18

C. tetani is found in

Answer 18

Ubiquitous in GI tract, soil

Spore resistant