Fungi and bacteria causing infective endocarditis Flashcards
Mention the important properties of “ Staphylococcus aureus “
- gram-positive cocci arranged in grapelike clusters
- produces a carotenoid pigment called staphyloxanthin
- All staphylococci produce catalase unlike streptococci they don’t have catalase
- Bacteria that make catalase can survive the killing effect of H2O2 within neutrophils (virulent factor) - S. aureus is the most important ; it’s distinguished from the others primarily by coagulase production
- S. aureus usually ferments mannitol and hemolyzes red blood cells (source of iron required for growth of the organism)
What is the function of staphyloxanthin pigment ?
- gives golden color to the colonies
2. inactivates the microbicidal effect of superoxides and other reactive oxygen species within neutrophils
What is the function of coagulase enzyme ?
an enzyme that causes plasma to clot by :
- activating prothrombin to form thrombin.
- Thrombin then catalyzes the activation of fibrinogen to form the fibrin clot
What are the coagulase-negative staphylococci ?
- S. epidermidis
- S. saprophyticus
* Note: The coagulase-negative staphylococci do not produce protein A
Mention the cell wall components and antigens of “ S. aureus “ and give an explanation for each if any
- Protein A:
1a. The major protein in the cell wall
1b. an important virulence factor;
- binds to the Fc portion of IgG at the complement-binding site ——> preventing the activation of complement ——> reducing opsonization and phagocytosis of the organisms - endotoxin-like properties peptidoglycan :
2a. can stimulate macrophages to produce cytokines
2b. can activate the complement and coagulation cascades
2c. It’s ability to cause the clinical findings of septic shock although it doesn’t possess endotoxin - Teichoic acids : mediate adherence of staphylococci to mucosal cells
- Polysaccharide capsule :
It has antiphagocytic function
- Clumping factor A:
binds to fibrinogen → platelet activation, aggregation, and blood clumping
What is the main site of colonization of S. aureus ?
nose
State the transmission of S. aureus.
- The nose:
is the main site of colonization - The skin : ( especially of hospital personnel and patients )
- Hand contact is an important mode of transmission. - The vagina of approximately 5% of women
- which predisposes them to toxic shock syndrome.
Disease caused by S. aureus is favored by:
- Heavily contaminated environment.
- Compromised immune system.
- Diabetes.
- Foreign bodies, such as sutures and intravenous catheters
Explain how s.aureus causes diseases
S. aureus causes disease both by:
1) Inducing pyogenic inflammation.
• The typical lesion of S. aureus infection is an abscess.
2) Producing toxins
• Several important toxins and enzymes are produced by S. aureus.
What are the three clinically important exotoxins ?
- Enterotoxin
- Toxic shock syndrome toxin.
- Exfoliatin
Define “ enterotoxin”
causes food poisoning characterized by prominent vomiting than diarrhea
Explain the mechanism of enterotoxin
- It acts as a superantigen within the gastrointestinal tract to stimulate the
release of ——> large amounts of IL-1 and IL-2 from macrophages and helper T cells, respectively. - The prominent vomiting appears to be caused by cytokines which ——> stimulate the enteric nervous system to ——> activate the vomiting center in the brain.
- It is heat-resistant ; not inactivated by brief cooking. It is resistant to stomach acid and to enzymes in the stomach and jejunum.
What is “ Toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST) “ ?
- causes toxic shock, especially in:
Tampon-using menstruating women or in individuals with wound infections.
- Patients with nasal packing used to stop bleeding from the nose.
- TSST is produced locally by S. aureus in the: - vagina
- nose
- or other infected site enters the bloodstream, causing a toxemia
Explain the mechanism of Toxic shock syndrome toxin .
- TSST is a superantigen that triggers polyclonal T cell activation
- causes toxic shock by stimulating the release of large amounts of IL-2, IFN-γ, and TNF-α
Toxic shock syndrome toxin causes toxic shock by releasing which cytokines ?
- IL-2
- IFN-γ
- TNF-α.
What causes “scalded skin” syndrome in young children “ ?
Exfoliatin
Explain the mechanism of “ Exfoliatin “
It is “epidermolytic” and acts as a protease that cleaves desmoglein in desmosomes ——> leading to the separation of the epidermis at the granular cell layer
Define Leukocidin.
pore-forming toxin that kills cells, by damaging cell membranes
List the enzymes that cause disease by S.aureus
- coagulase :
- clotting plasma, serves to wall off the infected site
- thereby retarding the migration of neutrophils into the site. - Staphylokinase :
- fibrinolysin that can lyse thrombi - hyaluronidase
- proteases
- nucleases
- Lipases
Mention the two groups important for clinical manifestations caused by S. aureus
- Staphylococcus aureus pyogenic Diseases
2. Staphylococcus aureus toxin-Mediated Diseases
State the clinical manifestations of “ Staphylococcus aureus pyogenic Diseases “
- Skin infections are very common. These include :
- bullous and non bullous impetigo
(vesicles or flaccid bullae, which rupture and form thin, honey colored crusts)
- skin abscess
- Septicemia (sepsis)
- Endocarditis on normal or prosthetic heart valves
- Osteomyelitis
- Postsurgical wound infections
- Pneumonia
- Conjunctivitis ( inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye)
- Abscesses
State the clinical manifestations of “ Staphylococcus aureus toxin-Mediated Diseases “
- Food poisoning (gastroenteritis)
- Toxic shock syndrome
- Scalded-skin syndrome
- Large areas of skin may slough
In staphylococcal food poisoning, vomiting is typically more prominent than _________
diarrhea
What is the characteristic of Toxic shock syndrome ?
- fever
- hypotension
- a diffuse, macular, sunburn-like rash.
What is the characteristic of Scalded-skin syndrome ?
- fever
2. blistering and brown crusted rash that slough off with gentle pressure (Nikolsky sign positive)