Gram positive endospore forming rods Flashcards
Identify the relevant risk factors associated with Clostridium botulinum.
improperly reheated food
honey given to infants
An infant eats honey and becomes flaccid. Organism? Mechanism?
Clostridium botulinum
inhibited release of ACh
Name the bacteria associated with food poisoning from reheating meat dishes.
C. perfringens
What is the major reservoir for Clostridium difficile?
4% of general population are carriers
ubiquitous in hospitals
Identify the major virulence/toxicity factors associated with Bacillus anthracis.
exotoxin
antiphagocytic polypeptide capsule
How is Bacillus anthracis transmitted?
spores in infected animals or animal products (furs, bones, etc.) can contaminate wounds or mucous membranes or be ingested or inhaled
T/F: C. perfringens produces alpha-toxin, a globulin that causes myonecrosis, gas gangrene, and hemolysis.
false
alpha-toxin is a lecithinase
What is pathognomonic or the most common association with Clostridium difficile?
extremely antibiotic resistant
1/3 of all diarrhea in patients who are taking antibiotics are caused by this organism
Identify the major virulence/toxicity factors associated with Bacillus cereus.
spores not killed by boiling
emetic toxin
diarrheal toxin
What is the major reservoir for Clostridium botulinum?
soil, pond, lake sediments
What procedures or lab findings are useful to help diagnose Clostridium difficile?
endoscopy
detection of toxins in stool
What is the morphology of Bacillus cereus?
endospore forming rod
How does Bacillus anthracis gram stain?
positive
How does Bacillus cereus gram stain?
positive
What lab findings are useful to help diagnose Clostridium perfringens?
gram + rod
double zone of hemolysis on blood agar (anaerobic conditions)
lecithinase +
Identify the major virulence/toxicity factors associated with Clostridium botulinum.
seven distinct neurotoxins which prevents release of ACh, resulting in flaccid paralysis
Identify relevant epidemiology and risk factors associated with Clostridium difficile.
dysbiosis following antibiotic therapy
What is the morphology of Clostridium difficile?
endospore forming rod
What lab findings are useful to help diagnose Clostridium tetani?
organisms are not cultured and the exotoxin is extremely potent at very low doses
What lab findings are useful to help diagnose Bacillus anthracis?
large, boxcar like, spore-forming rods
gram +
aerobic
Identify the major virulence/toxicity factors associated with Clostridium tetani.
the potent exotoxin tetanospasmin blocks GABA and glycine release in CNS leading to spastic paralysis and death
What lab findings are useful to help diagnose Clostridium botulinum?
since the toxin creates disease and not the organism, lab tests are impractical
What are the clinical manifestations of Clostridium tetani?
tetanus - spastic paralysis days to weeks after initial exposure with the masseter muscle often the first to show symptoms
Describe the characteristic lesion of anthrax.
black skin lesions - vesicular papules covered by black eschar
