GRAM POSITIVE Flashcards
The most severe form of this disease results from the inhalation of spores with mediastinitis, pulmonary edema, and hemorrhage (Woolsorter’s disease)
Bacillus anthracis
-can occur as an OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE of TEXTILE or AGRICULTURAL PERSONNEL resulting from contact with INFECTED HIDES or WOOL; recently, it has gained attention as an agent of BIOWARFARE and BIOTERRORISM
Causes gastroenteritis and is typically associated with consumption of reheated rice
Bacillus cereus
-rapid EMESIS or DIARRHEA is associated with an ENTEROTOXIN that INCREASES cAMP and is produced by the organism as it germinates
Disease can be due to the ingestion of preformed toxin in home-canned foods or by ingestion of spores in honey by an infant
Clostridium botulinum
-symptoms include FLACCID PARALYSIS, dry mouth, diplopia, dysphagia, and RESPIRATORY FAILURE
Associated with the use of broad-spectrum abx and the overgrowth of toxin-producing bacteria
Clostridium difficile
-results in PSEUDOMEMBRANOUS COLITIS and is also a major nosocomial disease
Causes gas gangrene and is often associated with automobile and motorcycle accidents
Clostridium perfringens
-SPORES are abundant in soil and GERMINATE IN WOUNDS; treatment includes surgical debridement, abx, and HYPERBARIC OXYGEN
Infection is associated with traumatic inoculation of spores that germinate and produce a toxin that causes a spastic paralysis
Clostridium tetani
-the organism looks like a long rod with a DILATED TERMINAL END containing a SPORE that resembles a TENNIS RACQUET
Can causes risus sardonicus, the characteristic grimace of lockjaw
Clostridium tetani
-treatment includes the use of ANTITOXINS produced in HORSES or hyperimmunized humans, and ANTISPASMODICS such as benzodiazepines
Causes a fishy smelling vaginal discharge
Gardnerella vaginalis
-histologically characterized by the presence of “CLUE CELLS”, vaginal epithelial cells covered with bacteria, seen on a pap smear
As the dominant organism of normal vaginal flora, its metabolism helps maintain the low pH of the vagina
Lactobacillus spp.
-the LACTIC ACID produced helps prevent the OVERGROWTH OF POTENTIALLY PATHOGENIC ORGANISMS; with the use of BROAD-SPECTRUM ABX, such acid-producing FLORA IS LOST, allowing for OVERGROWTH of pathogenic species
A major cause of acute bacterial endocarditis, especially in IV drug users
Staphylococcus aureus
-unlike subacute bacterial endocarditis, this organism can cause infection of UNDAMAGED HEART VALVES, typically on the RIGHT SIDE [tricuspid] in IV DRUG USERS
The 2nd leading cause of UTI in sexually active women
Staphylococcus saprophyticus
-differentiated from Staphylococcus epidermidis by its ability to FERMENT MANNITOL and its resistance to novobiocin
Infection results in rheumatic fever
Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A)
-characterized by a constellation of symptoms including MIGRATORY POLYARTHRITIS, ERYTHEMA MARGINATUM, PANCARDITIS, Syndenham CHOREA, and SUBCUTANEOUS NODULES
A major cause of pharyngitis, infection can also result in other suppurative symptoms such as erysipelas, cellulitis, and impetigo
Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A)
-infection with this BETA-HEMOLYTIC, BACITRACIN-SENSITIVE cocci can be serodiagnosed with the detection of host antibodies to bacterial DNase B and ANTI-STREPTOLYSIN O [ASO]
Infection can lead to the development of acute glomerulonephritis and mitral and aortic stenosis
Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A)
-IMMUNOCOMPLEX DEPOSITION in the kidney visualized by “LUMPY-BUMPY” immunofluorescence; CROSS-REACTIVE ANTIBODIES to the bacteria result in AUTOIMMUNE DESTRUCTION of the heart valves
Causes gray pseudomembranes on the back of the throat
Corynebacterium diphtheriae
-organisms often viewed in a “CHINESE-LETTER” configuration
A major cause of dental carries
Streptococcus mutans
-a member of the VIRIDANS GROUP, it is also ALPHA-HEMOLYTIC and OPTOCHIN-RESISTANT
Leading cause of subacute bacterial endocarditis
Streptococcus viridans
-this ALPHA-HEMOLYTIC, OPTOCHIN-RESISTANT COCCI is part of the NORMAL FLORA of the HUMAN PHARYNX
Part of the normal flora of the skin, it causes infection of IV lines and catheters; it is a major cause of endocarditis in patients with prosthetic heart valves
Staphylococcus epidermidis
-similar to Staphylococcus aureus, but grows as white colonies, DOES NOT PRODUCE COAGULASE, DOES NOT FERMENT MANNITOL, and does not produce Protein A
An important cause of neonatal sepsis and meningitis
Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B)
-this BETA-HEMOLYTIC, BACITRACIN-RESISTANT cocci is a NORMAL inhabitant of the FEMALE GENITAL TRACT and can be acquired during VAGINAL DELIVERY
Lancet-shaped dipolococci found in a rusty brown sputum
Streptococcus pneumoniae
-causes >90% of all cases of LOBAR PNEUMONIA
A common cause of nosocomial infections, this organism is often resistant to many Abx, including vancomycin
Enterococcus spp.
-common cause of UTI’s, sepsis, meningitis, and endocarditis
Part of the microbial flora of the skin, this bacilli contributes to the development of acne
Propionibacterium acnes
-the organism produces LIPASES that split fatty acids that cause INFLAMMATION, resulting in the formation of COMEDONES
A major cause of abscesses, furuncles, carbuncles, and other skin infections such as impetigo
Staphylococcus aureus
-this BETA-HEMOLYTIC cocci grows in GRAPE-LIKE CLUSTERS, produces COAGULASE, and grows in culture as YELLOWISH colonies
This cause of late onset neonatal sepsis is a facultative intracellular parasite that spreads from cell to cell via actin rockets
Listeria monocytogenes
-this organism can be detected as short non-spore-forming rods with a tumbling END-OVER-END motility
