Haemophilus Flashcards
Name the general characteristics of Haemophilus spp.
- Fam = Pasturellaceae
- Sm, non motile, pleomorphic GNB
- Faculative anaerobes, 5-7% CO2 enriched atmosphere
- Require X factor or V factor to grow
Epidemiology and mode of transmission for Haem spp.
- NF of upper resp. tract
- Endogenous strains (opportunistic)
Pathogenesis and virulence of Haem. spp.
- Otitis media, sinusitis, conjunctivitis
- Not encapsulated
- low virulence factors (uncertain)
- Opportunistic (endogenous)
Haemophilus influenzae; epidemiology + mode of transmission.
- NF of URT 2 categories: - Typable (systemic + life threatening) - Non-typable (localized) - Type b are most serious infections (has vaccine)
- Person to person (resp. droplets)
- Endogenous strains (into sterile sites)
Haemophilus influenza - Typable
Based on capsular characteristics:
- Cap. = sugar alcohol phosphate complex
- 6 groups: a,b,c,d,e, f
- HIB (H.influenzae type b); most common encountered serious infections in humans
Haemophilus influenza - non-typable (NTHi)
- No capsule = normal inhabitants of URT
- Encapsulated = meningitis, epiglottitis, cellulitis w/ bacteremia, septic arthritis, pneumonia
- Non-encapsulated = localized infection, otitis media, sinusitis, conjunctivitis
What are the virulence factors of H.influenzae?
Capsulated
- protected from phagocytosis (usually HIB)
- Additional cell envelope factors help with attachement to host
Non-encapsulated
- Pili and other cell surface factors mediate attachment
H. parainfluenzae; epidemiology and mode of transmission
- NF of URT
- Endogenous strains (opportunistic)
H. parainfluenzae; pathogenesis and spectrum of disease.
- Low pathogenicity, occasionally causes endocarditis
- Similar infections as H. influenzae
- Most common of Heam spp.
H. parainfluenzae; virulence factors
- Similar to Haem. spp.
- No capsules
H. ducreyi; epidemiology and mode of transmission
- NOT NF, only in humans during infection
- Person to person; sexual contact
H. ducreyi; pathogenesis and spectrum of disease
Chancroid
- symptoms=genital lesions, to ulcers and inguinal lymphadenopathy
- Confused w/ syphilis
- More common in tropics, or socially disadvantaged pops.
H. ducreyi; virulence factors
Uncertain but could be: - Capsular factors - Pili - Toxins (involved in attachement to host)
Name some other Haemophilus infections:
Formerly called: Haemophilus aphrophilus
- “H” of HACEK group
- SBE (subacute bacterial endocarditis)
- NOW: Aggregatibacter aphrophilus
How is Haemophilus isolated?
- Nasal washes and/or nasopharyngeal swabs
- Susceptible to drying and temp extremes (culture to correct media asap
How is collecting for H. ducreyi different?
- Clean ulcer, swab w/ phosphate buffered saline
- Culture to special selective media w/in 10 mins
What to be cautious about during Gram stain
- Centrifuge to concentrate
- Coccobacilli of sm bacili stain pale, can be difficult to pick out from pink background
- Be careful not to over decolorize