Clostridium

Question 1

Clostridium

1. Gram Stain?
2. Oxygen tolerance?
3. Produce what?

Answer 1

1. Gram positive rods
2. Strictly anaerobic
3. Endospores

Question 2

Metabolically inactive state in which organisms can remain viable for hundreds of year. Resistant to adverse condition (heat, drying, radiation, chemicals). Caused by unfavorable environment. Readily germinate when conditions become favorable for vegetative growth.

Answer 2

Spores

Question 3

“Difficult clostridium” (Not easy to culture). Leading cause of nosocomial diarrhea. Endospore transmission. Harbored in large intestine (dormant). Disease state usually associated with antimicrobial drugs (kills off everything else and allows this to grow)

Answer 3

C. Difficile

Question 4

C. Difficile Toxins:

Answer 4

1. Toxin A- Enterotoxin (fluid production, damage to mucosa)

2. Toxin B- Cytotoxin (rounding of tissue-culture cells)

Question 5

Both C. Difficile toxins act in cytoplasm of host cell to glycosylate _____, causing cells to lose cytoskeletal structure and die

Answer 5

GTP-binding proteins

Question 6

Found in soil in intestinal tract of animals. Environmental pathogen. Major in wound infections (and war wounds). Local damage and systemic effects. Toxins -> Gas gangrene, necrotizing.

Answer 6

C. Perfringens

Question 7

Type of wound that C. Perfringens thrives in:

Answer 7

1. Anaerobic
2. Compromised blood supply
3. Calcium ions
4. Availability of peptides and amino acids

Question 8

C. Perfringens toxin that damages cell membranes and causes gas gangrene.

Answer 8

Alpha-Toxin (Lecithinase)

Question 9

C. Perfringens Treatment/Prevention

Answer 9

1. Surgical removal of infected muscle
2. Antibiotics
3. Prompt care imperative

Question 10

C. Perfringens is also the third most common type of food poisoning. Sporulating C. Perfringens produce ____ in intestines. -> Diarrhea

Answer 10

Enterotoxin

Question 11

Lives in soils and marine sediments. Heat-resistant spores (not toxins), can survive food processing. Bioweapon. Toxins very poisonous.

Answer 11

Clostridium Botulinum

Question 12

C. Botulinum toxin prevents release of ______. -> Paralysis

Answer 12

Acetylcholine Neurotransmitter

Question 13

Three types of Botulism:

Answer 13

1. Food-borne
2. Wound botulism (rare)
3. Infant botulism

Question 14

C. Botulinum Treatment

Answer 14

1. 25% mortality rate
2. Trivalent antitoxin (from horses) administered ASAP
3. Some permanent muscle damage
4. No antibiotics necessary (because it’s the toxin only)

Question 15

C. Tetani major toxin:

Answer 15

Tetanospasmin

->tetanus

Question 16

Tetanospasmin attaches to peripheral nerves near wound and is transmitted to _____. Causes reflex spasms, spastic paralysis.

Answer 16

Cranial Nerve nuclei

Question 17

Lockjaw caused by Tetanus.

Answer 17

Trismus

Question 18

C. Tetani Treatment/Prevention:

Answer 18

1. Preventable with DPT vaccine
2. 11% mortality (respiratory failure)
3. Antitoxin and penicillin G (prevent further paralysis)
4. Surgical debridement of wound