Examples of Medical Microbiology

Question 1

What does the suffix -aemia mean?

Answer 1

To do with the blood

Question 2

What is sepsis?

Answer 2

A person that has an out of control immune response

Question 3

What are some symptoms of Sepsis?

Answer 3

Elevated white cell count
Fever
A confirmed infection

Question 4

What are the symptoms of Systematic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)?

Answer 4

Two from - Raised temp, raised WBC count, tachycardia, tachypnoea

Question 5

What does severe sepsis mean?

Answer 5

The same as sepsis but also a low blood pressure

Question 6

What is Septic shock?

Answer 6

Severe sepsis but has a persistent low blood pressure that requires more than just fluid replacement

Question 7

What is Multi-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS)?

Answer 7

Septic shock, but with evidence of clotting disorders, failure of organs and build up of toxic products

Question 8

How many of species of microbes are in the gut?

Answer 8

As many as 35000W

Question 9

What is a healthy gut flora mainly composed of?

Answer 9

Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes

Question 10

What does the gut flora do?

Answer 10

Helps with metabolism of carbs, lipids and proteins

Question 11

What are the antimicrobial defence systems of the GI tract?

Answer 11

pH of the stomach
Antimicrobial polypeptides
Enzymes
Bile salts

Question 12

What does faeces contain?

Answer 12

Food waste, human cells and large amounts of bacteria

Question 13

How is microbial diarrhoea caused?

Answer 13

Secretion of water into gut lumen by microbe
Reduced absorption of water from gut from digestion by microbe

Question 14

How are bloodstream infections caused?

Answer 14

From normal flora
Traumatic injuries

Question 15

How is Gastroenteritis caused?

Answer 15

UK primarily foodborne
Also respiratory
Normal flora or acquired

Question 16

How does a bloodstream infection interact?

Answer 16

Replication is possible due to nutrients in blood
Common bacteria have capsules that prevent phagocytosis

Question 17

How does Gastroenteritis interact?

Answer 17

Has to adhere to gut wall and will replicate
Less immune response observed
Needs to outcompete other microbes

Question 18

How does a blood infection damage?

Answer 18

Clotting
Sepsis
Endotoxins
Haemolysins, causing anaemia

Question 19

How does Gastroenteritis damage?

Answer 19

Invades and damages gut lining
Ulceration
Toxins
Secondary infections e.g. arthritis
Autoimmune conditions

Question 20

What is the outcome of a bloodstream infection?

Answer 20

Relatively high fatality rate even with treatment

Question 21

What is the outcome of Gastroenteritis?

Answer 21

Most causes self-resolve with no long term effects

Question 22

How many blood cultures should be taken from different sampling sites?

Answer 22

Two or three sets

Question 23

How long do organisms take to grow in modern systems?

Answer 23

2-3 days

Question 24

What do modern systems look for as a sign of microbial growth?

Answer 24

Elevation of carbon dioxide levels

Question 25

What are the selective agars used for Salmonella and Shigella?

Answer 25

XLD, DCA

Question 26

What is the differential agent used for E. coli?

Answer 26

Sorbitol

Question 27

What temperature is Campylobacter incubated at?

Answer 27

42C - it's thermophillic

Question 28

What other conditions is Campylobacter grown in?

Answer 28

Reduced O2 and raised CO2

Question 29

How are viral pathogens detected?

Answer 29

Traditionally by electron microscopy Moving towards antigen testing or molecular methods

Question 30

How are gut parasites diagnosed?

Answer 30

Microscopy - Faecal stained with iodine Antigen detection Serological

Question 31

How is Septicaemia treated?

Answer 31

Antibiotic therapy Supportive therapy

Question 32

How is Gastroenteritis treated?

Answer 32

Maintain hydration For C. diff - stop antibiotics that are causing it For immunocompromised therapy may be needed

Question 33

What are key risk factors for Sepsis?

Answer 33

Major trauma Medical intervention Splenectomy

Question 34

How many children under 5 does diarrhoea kill?

Answer 34

760,000 each year

Question 35

What is diarrhoea defined as?

Answer 35

Passage of three or more loose or liquid stools per day

Question 36

What is acute watery diarrhoea?

Answer 36

lasts several hours or days, includes cholera

Question 37

What is acute bloody diarrhoea?

Answer 37

Also called dysentery

Question 38

What is persistent diarrhoea

Answer 38

Lasts 14 days or longer

Question 39

Why does diarrhoea cause death?

Answer 39

Usually due to dehydration and salt imbalance

Question 40

What is the estimated cases of Campylobacteriosis per year?

Answer 40

500,000

Question 41

What are the risk factors of Gastroenteritis?

Answer 41

Eating contaminated food Foreign travel Age Reduced stomach acidity