Gram+ and Gram- Cocci - Kaul 4/26/16 Flashcards
Gram+ cocci
genera, virulence factors
majority comprise 3 genera:
- Staphyococcus
- Streptococcus
- Enterococcus
major virulence factors
- adhesins/cell surface factors : allow to stick to host ECM
- secreted enzymes/toxins : allow to penetrate/digest host ECM
Staphylococci
- Gram stain : cells in clusters (bunches of grapes)
- normal skin flora (most common bacteria on our skin)
- facultative anaerobes (aerobes, but can also grow anaerobically)
- hardy : resistant to heat/drying → persist on fomites
- wound and nosocomial (hosp-acquired) infections
all are catalase+ (unlike streptococci)
S. aureus (major pathogen) is coagulase+, all others are coagulase- Staph (CoNS; CNS)
Staphylococcus aureus basics
most common human pathogen
- normal flora in ant nares of 1/3 of ppl
predisposition to infection can be due to:
- tissue injury (surgical/battle wounds)
- preexisting primary infection
- diabetes
- immunodef
- poor hygiene and nutrition
infections either localized or systemic
S. aureus
superantigen toxins
non-specifically link MHC to TCR
activate T cells with different specificities
- up to 20% of all T cells activated
- overproduction of cytokines (IL1, IL2, TNF)
- toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST1)
- enterotoxins
- exfoliatin
Staphylococcus aureus
virulence
- cell surface virulence factors
- protein A : (binds to Fc portion of abs) → opposite orientation req for opsonization → anti-opsonin effect to evade immune system
- adhesins : facilitate adhesion to host cell/ECM
- antiphagocytic polysacch microcapsule
- cytolytic exotoxin
- hemolysin - lyses RBCs
- PVL (Panton-Valentine leukocidin) - lyses leukocytes, specifically PMNs (produced predominantly by CA-MRSA)
- superantigen toxins : nonspecifically crosslink MHC/TCR
* (TSST1, enterotoxin, exfoliatin) - tissue “invasin” enzymes : “spreading factors” - facilitate penetration through extracellular tissue
- staphylokinase
- hyaluronidase
- lipase
Staphylococcus aureus
common clinical manifestations
1. SSTIs (skin and soft tissue infections)
- furuncles : small, pus-filled, local infections
- carbuncles : larger skin abscesses
- impetigo : spreading, crusted skin infection
- cellulitis : deep skin infection
2. infection of other tissues, potentially from metastasis of superficial infections…
- osteomylitis
- septic joint/ septic arthritis (esp in children)
- pneumonia
- bloodstream infections: bacteremia, septicemia
- acute endocarditis (freq assoc with IV drug use)
3. toxinoses
- gasteroenteritis (from enterotoxins) → acute onset of GI distress with char projectile vomiting
- toxic shock syndrome (TSST1 exotoxin) → high fever, sunburn like rash, multiple organ failure
- scalded skin syndrome (exfoliatin toxin) → bullous impetigo → desquamation of epidermix
Staphylococcus aureus
treatment options
- beta-lactamase resistant penicillins (ex. nafcillin)
1. penicillinase-resistant penicillins (ex. oxacillin)
2. clindamycin
**if MRSA, vancomycin is SOC antibiotic
- vancomycin - glycopeptide
- daptomycin - lipopeptide
- linezolid - oxazolidone
- ceftaroline - cephalosporin with affinity for PBP2a
S. aureus antibiotic resistance
1945: penicillin
1955: almost all S. aureus resistant due to penicillinase
enter. ..penicillinase-resistant beta-lactams (methicillin, oxacillin, nafcillin)
* bound to PBP2 (penicillin binding protein 2)
countered by…MRSA! (methicillin-resistant S. aureus)
- made PBP2a
now. ..vancomycin!
but. ..VISA (intermediate), VRSA (resistant) → uncommon but growing in importance
Staphylococcus aureus
diagnostics
- Gram stain: Gram+ cocci in clusters
- culture: golden-yellow colonies
- catalase+
- coagulase+
Staphylococcus epidermidis
basics
major component of normal skin flora
- cause wound infections through broken skin
relatively less virulent
freq involved in nosocomial infections, opportunistic infections
produces cell surface polysacch “slime” → adheres to bioprosthetic material and acts as barrier to antibiotics
most are highly resistant to oxacillins, penicillins
Staphylococcus epidermidis
virulence
- polysaccharide capsule adheres to prosthetic devices
- highly resistant to antibiotics
Staphylococcus epidermidis
most common clinical manifestations
nosocomial infections…
- prosthetic jts and heart valves
- IV lines
- UTIs
Staphylococcus epidermidis
treatment options
vancomycin (resistant to many antibiotics)
Staphylococcus epidermidis
diagnostics
- Gram stain: Gram+ cocci in clusters
- catalase+
- coagulase-
Staphylococcus saprophyticus
most common clinical manifestations
normal vaginal flora (infreq found on skin)
UTIs and cystitis in women
Staphylococcus saprophyticus
treatment options
penicillin G
Staphylococcus saprophyticus
diagnostics
- Gram stain: Gram+ coccie in clusters
- catalase+
- coagulase-
- novobiocin resistant
Streptococcus
Gram+ spherical/ovoid cocci arranged in long chains, commonly in pairs
approx 25 species
catalase-
most parasitic forms are fastidious → require enriched media
sensitive to drying/heat
aerotolerant anaerobes
classified based on:
- hemolysis pattern
- cell wall antigen
hemolysis
beta-hemolysis : complete erythrocyte destruction
alpha-hemolysis : RBCs damaged by peroxide → Hb turns green/brown
gamma-hemolysis : no hemolysis
Streptococcus Lancefield groups
serological classification based on antigenic cell wall polysacch: C substance (carbohydrate substance)
react with specific antisera in slide agglutination assays
- Groups A-U exist
- common human pathogens: Groups A, B, D, none