Infectious Heart Disease Flashcards
List the common etiological agents infective endocarditis:
Most are part of the normal microbiota
-
Gram (+) bacteria:
- Staphylococcus aureus – anterior nares
- Coagulase-negative staphylococci (e.g. S. epidermidis) – skin
- viridans streptococci (e.g. S. sanguis, S. mutans, S. mitis) – oral cavity
- enterococci (E. faecalis, E. faecium) – GI tract
How do the etiological agents gain access to the endocardium?
Access to endocardium provided by transient bacteremia
How are IE pathogens successful?
- able to survive antimicrobial components of serum
- able to adhere avidly to endocardium
-
viridans streptococci
- dextran (exopolysaccharide)
- adhesins (surface proteins; FimA, GspB, PblA, PblB) that mediate attachment to platelets and fibrin
-
S. aureus
- fibrinogen-binding adhesins (ClfA, coagulase)
-
viridans streptococci
How is vegetation beneficial to IE pathogens?
Life in a vegetation:
- heterogeneous matrix of deposited bacteria, platelets, fibrin, other matrix ligands
- protection from immune cells
- bacteria can achieve high densities
- limitations on nutrient exchange, high cell density – bacteria are not growing rapidly
How do vegetations impact antibiotic therapy?
Implications for antibiotic therapy:
- Bactericidal activity
- parental administration for sustained activity
- long-term treatment required
What does the cell wall determine for bacteria?
Cell Wall (Peptidoglycan) defines shape
-
spheres (cocci)
- single cells
- pairs (diplococci)
- chains (streptococci)
- tetrads (micrococci)
- grapelike clusters (stapylcocci)
-
rods (bacilli)
- coccobacilli ⇒ long rods
-
spirals
- comma-shaped (Vibrio) ⇒ 4-20 coils (Spirochetes)
Cell wall:
Gram (+) vs. Gram (-) bacteria
- Gram Positive: Thick Peptidoglycan
-
Gram Negative: Thin Peptidoglycan
- Crosslinked to the Outer Membrane
- Outer Membrane:Permeability barrier
- Crosslinked to the Outer Membrane
What is the laboratory delineation of IE pathogens?
- **Blood culture **
-
Gram-stain
- Positive vs. Negative
-
Shape
- Cocci vs. Rods vs. Other
-
Organization
- Chains vs. Clusters
-
Genus
- Streptococcus vs. Staphylococcus
- Other tests
List the cell wall antibacterial agents:
- cefazolin, ceftriaxone, penicillin, nafcillin
- vancomcyin
- daptomycin
List the protein synthesis inhibitors:
gentamicin
List the RNA synthesis inhibitor:
rifampin
Describe the mechanism for β-lactam antibiotics:
block peptidoglycan crosslinking by inhibting PBPs
How do β-lactam antibiotics differ?
Four basic types of β-lactam
- modification at “R” groups alters properties of the antibiotic
How do bacteria resist β-lactam antibiotics?
-
Mutations in PBPs that prevent binding of β-lactam antibiotics (modification of antibiotic target)
- Most common mechanism of β-lactam resistance found in Gram-positive bacteria:
- Streptococcus
- methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
- Most common mechanism of β-lactam resistance found in Gram-positive bacteria:
How does Vancomycin differ from the β-lactam antibiotics?
- Glycopepetide antibiotic
-
Mechanism: binds to D-Ala-D-Ala
- Blocks PBPs from transglycosylation/transpeptidation
- Not effective against G (-) due to outer membrane (permeability barrier)
- Used for β-lactam resistant infections (e.g. MRSA) or in patients w/ β -lactam hypersensitivity