Exam 3 Gram Negative Cocci Flashcards
Neisseria is classified as a ___ ____ ____
gram negative diplococci
Are Neisseria aerobic or anaerobic?
Aerobic
Neisseria produces ______ which distinguishes it from oral Streptococci
cytochrome c oxidase (oxidase positive)
What medium is used to grow Neisseria
Thayer Martin
Positive oxidase test result
Indicator chemical turns blue when oxidized
Thayer Martin medium is best on ____ agar with _____
chocolate agar; increased CO2
True or false: many different species can survive on Thayer Martin medium
False - selective medium Neisseria only, other bacteria die from antibiotics that are present
Neisseria main virulence factors
- adhesion factors (pili)
- endotoxin (lipooligosaccharide)
The endotoxin of ____ is extremely potent
N. meningitidis
The endotoxin of _____ has low potency
N. gonorrhoeae
N. meningitidis has pili that are specific for:
epithelial cells of the oropharynx and meninges
Neisseria has ____ in its cell wall
LOS (lipooligosaccharide)
N. gonorrhoeae has pili specific for:
Mucosal cells
_____ is extracellular
N. meningitidis (spinal tap shows diplococci outside of cells)
_____ is intracellular
N. gonorrhoeae
N. meningitidis transmission
person to person by respiratory droplets
N. gonorrhoeae transmission
- sexual
- perinatal
True or false: N. meningitidis has a higher mortality than N. gonorrhoeae if untreated
True (85% if untreated)
IgG and IgM antibodies against ______ are protective
N. meningitidis capsular antigens
The pili of N. gonorrhoeae are _____ but highly _____, which leads to evasion of host immunity
immunogenic; polymorphic
Those with C5-C9 complement deficiencies are predisposed to:
Bacterial and Neisseria species infections
How does C5-C9 complement fight bacteria?
- form transmembrane channel in bacteria
- bacteria burst and die
N. meningitidis is part of ______. 5-15% are carriers in the ____
normal flora; nasopharynx
Where does N. meningitidis have high transmission rates?
- day care centers
- dorms
- barracks
What is the most common cause of acute meningitis?
N. meningitidis
N. meningitidis causes acute meningitis in:
- babies and children
- adolescents
- young adults
Most invasive disease of N. meningitidis is caused by what serogroups?
A, B, C, Y, W-135
Meningococcal disease incidence is highest in what age group?
Babies and children
N. meningitidis pathogenesis
Leading to meningitis
- adhere to and colonize the nasopharynx
- invade epithelium and then blood
- hematogenous spread causes endotoxemia
- toxins produces leads to meningitis
Meningococcal disease incidence has been decreasing recently due to:
Vaccine
True or false: N. meningitidis always results in meningitis
False - can also cause meningococcemia, pneumonia, arthritis, otitis media
Without treatment for N. meningitidis, fatality nears ___. With treatment, it nears _____ and up to ____ in meningococcemia
100%; 9-12%; 40%
Clinical findings of N. meningitidis
- acute bacterial meningitis
- CSF profile
What is the bacterial CSF profile?
WBC - 0-60,000
Cell type - neutrophils
Glucose - very low
Profile - high
What does the gram stain look like for N. meningitidis?
Gram negative diplococci in blood or CSF
____ is responsible for many severe systemic effects of N. meningitidis
Endotoxin (LPS)
N. meningitidis infection can lead to:
- hemorrhagic skin lesions (petechiae, may coalesce)
- septic shock
- disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC)
- Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome
- multi-organ failure/death
What is Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome?
Hemorrhagic destruction of the adrenals, which regulate metabolism, immune system, blood pressure
Petechiae
Infection causes blood clots to develop in small blood vessels
Petechiae can coalesce into:
Hemorrhagic bullae (blood blister)
Septic shock can lead to _____
N. meningitidis
Hypotension/shock (systemic vasodilation)
toxins damage small blood vessels + leak fluid into surrounding tissues