Gram Positive Rods Flashcards
Bacillus spp. Characteristics
most are saprophytes and opportunistic; produce spores, catalase positive, gelatin positive, and mostly motile; large rods in gram stain with boxcar shape
What are the different types of anthrax infections?
Cutaneous anthrax, pulmonary anthrax, GI anthrax, and injectional anthrax
Cutaneous Anthrax
occurs at the site of penetration and it progresses from an erythematous papule to ulceration (escher) and then toxemia and death; lymph nodes may swell
Pulmonary Anthrax
follows inhalation of spores and progresses from malaise with mild fever to chest edema, cyanosis, and death (shock and death occur 24-36 hours after onset)
GI Anthrax
ingestion of spores that affects the oropharyngeal or abdominal area; vomiting of blood and bloody diarrhea are main symptoms; most die of toxemia and sepsis
Injectional Anthrax
injection of contaminated drugs; may result in shock, coma, organ failure, and necrotizing fasciitis
How is B. anthracis treated?
ciprofloxacin or doxycycline plus one or two other antibiotics; resistant to B-lactams
What are the two types of food poisoning caused by Bacillus spp.?
Diarrheal type with abdominal pain and emetic type with vomiting
Bacillus anthracis Identification
nonhemolytic, nonmotile, growth anaerobically, lecithinase positive, ADH negative, nitrate positive, capsule positive, and susceptible to Gamma phage and penicillin G
Bacillus Cereus Identification
causes food poisoning and other opportunistic infections; grows anaerobically, motile, lecithinase positive, variable for ADH and nitrate, B hemolytic, capsule negative, and resistant to Gamma phage and penicillin G
Bacillus cereus biovar anthracis
Cote d’lvoire strain (C1): nonhemolytic, variable motility, capsule positive, susceptible to penicillin G, and resistant to Gamma phage
Cameroon strain (CA): nonhemolytic, variable motility, capsule positive, resistant to gamma phage and penicillin g
Other Bacillus spp Identification
B. licehniformis: grows anaerobically, motile, lecithinase negative, nitrate positive
B megaterium: no anaerobic growth, motile, lecithinase negative, ADH negative, nitrate negative
B. mycoides: grows anaerobically, nonmotile, lecithinase positive,
B. pumilis: no anaerobic growth, motile, lecithinase negative, ADH negative, and nitrate negative
B. subtilis: no anaerobic growth, motile, lecithinase negative, ADH negative, nitrate positive
B. thuringiensis: grows anaerobically, motile, lecithinase positive, ADH positive, and nitrate positive
Corynebacterium Characteristics
normal flora; non-spore forming, small, pleomorphic rods that can be club-shaped or curved; do not require CO2 to grow, aerobic/facultative anaerobic; nonmotile and catalase positive
Corynebacterium diphtheriae diseases
Infects the upper resp. tract in humans to cause diphtheria; there are toxigenic and nontoxigenic forms based on the presence of a bacteriophage with the toxin gene.
Diphtheria symptoms
a pseudomembrane of necrotic epi. cells, WBC, bacteria, and fibrin can obstruct the airway; the toxin can be absorbed and cause damage to the heart and nervous system
Tellurite media
Cystine-tellurite medium and Tinsdale agar have tellurite, allowing for isolation of corynebacterium and differentiate C. diphtheriae from other corynebacterium species because it has a brown halo around its colonies
Elek Test
an immunodiffusion procedure that tests for the diphtheria toxin; a precipitate forms on the antitoxin line if the toxin is present
Which two other species of corynebacterium cause serious disease?
C. jeikeium and C. urealyticum
Which two species of corynebacterium can also have the diphtheria toxin gene?
C. ulcerans and C. pseudotuberculosis
C. diphtheriae Identification
Nitrate positive, urease negative, fermenter, glucose positive, maltose positive,