Gram Positive Bacteria Flashcards
What are bacteria?
Single celled prokaryotes
How do most bacteria reproduce?
through binary fission
What do gram positive bacteria have which makes up a large portion of their cell wall?
Peptidoglycan
What do gram negative bacteria have which makes up a large portion of their cell wall?
Lipopolysaccharides (lipid A is what makes the bacteria very toxic and causes the harmful disease) and outer membrane proteins
What method can be used to distinguish between types of bacteria which are causing the infection?
Gram stain
What are gram positive cocci which are present in clusters called?
Staphylococci
What are gram positive cocci which are present in chains called?
Streptococci (enteroccci)
What test is used to check for staphylococci?
Coagulase test
What does it mean when coagulase test is positive for staphylococci?
If positive, then staphylococcus aureus is present which can be MSSA or MRSA
Where is staphylococci carried?
Carried in nose, axilla perineum (groin area), hairline
What disease are associated with staphylococci?
Wide range of diseases from: boils, soft tissue infections, septicaemia, cellulitis, skin abscesses, pneumonia, toxic shock syndrome and food poisoning (dangerous and non-dangerous)
Why is staphylococcus aureus penicillin resistant?
It contains Beta- lactamase
Why is MRSA causing problems for infection control? (3)
- They are methicillin resistant (staphylococci aureus)
- can mutate quickly
- resistant to penicillin (common antibiotics)
What strain is associated with coagulase +ve test for staphylococcus?
Staphylococcus aureus
What 3 strains are associated with streptococci?
- alpha haemolysis (partial)
- beta haemolysis (complete)
- non- haemolytic
What colour does blood agar turn in alpha (partial) haemolysis?
turns green
What colour does blood agar turn in beta (complete) haemolysis?
turns clear
What effect does the non-haemolytic strain have on blood agar? (group D streptococci)
No effect
What two strains does alpha-haemolytic streptococci include?
- streptococcus pneumoniae
- viridans streptococcus
What does viridans streptococci cause?
endocarditis (infection and inflammation of the lining of the heart, especially the heart valves)
What do streptococcus pyogenes cause? (Group A, Beta haemolytic)
-throat infections (sore throat)
-skin infections (e.g. cellulitis or necrotising fasciitis)
-scarlet fever
- acute rheumatic fever
-acute glomerulonephritis
Treated with penicillin