Gram Positive Pathogens Flashcards
What colour do gram positive pathogens stain with the gram test
Blue/Purple
Gram positive bacteria characteristics.
- Thick cell wall made of peptidoglycan
- No periplasm
- Lipoteichoic Acids (glycerophosphate/ribitolphosphate)
Give three examples of an aerobic cocci
- Staphylococcus
- Streptococcus
- Micrococcus
Are staphylococci catalase positive or negative?
Positive
Which staphylococci species is is coagulase positive?
Staphylococcus aureus
Where can you find S. aureus?
It is an opportunistic pathogen which is found mainly on
- Anterior nares, throat and groins
- skin and intestines
- formites
Risk factors for infection of s. aureus
- Presence of foreign body (splinter, catheter)
- A surgical procedure
- Being immunocompromised
S. aureus is the main cause of
Skin and soft tissue infections
e.g boils, carbuncles, toxic shock syndrome
Staphylococcus virulence factors
- Structural Components: capsule, teichoic acids
- Enzymes: Coagulases, nucleases, lipases
- Toxins and Hemolysins: alpha toxin, beta toxin, gamma toxin
Diagnostic tests for S. aureus
- Selective media: salt mannitol plates (red to yellow colour change)
- Biochemical tests: coagulase test
- PCR, MALDI-TOF mass spec
Where is s. epidermis found?
On the skin, in the gut and respiratory tract
Who are at high risk for s. epidermidis
IVDU
Individuals with joint replacements
neurosurgical devices
Why are s. epidermidis infections hard to treat?
- they produce a biofilm when implanted
- they are often resistant to anti-staphylococcal agents. e.g MRSE
What are the characteristics of the streptococcus species
- Facultative anaerobes
- Need CO2 for growth
- Non-motile
- Complex nutritional requirements
- Catalase negative
- Lactic acid fermenter
Streptococcus classification is done using three methods
- Haemolytic patterns: sheep blood agar plates
- Lancefield grouping
3.Biochemical/physiological testing to distinguish species
Which type of haemolysis is alpha?
Incomplete haemolysis.