Kids, Bugs and Drugs

Question 1

Neisseria meningitidis

what type of bacteria is it?
what does it cause?

Answer 1

Gram –ve diplococci

meningitis

Question 2

Haemophilus influenzae

what type of bacteria?
causes what in children
causes what in adults?
what can type b H. influenzae cause + why is it rare?

Answer 2

Gram –ve cocco-bacillus

children: otitis media
adults: pneumonia
type B: meningitis but there is a vaccine for type B.

Question 3

Strep pneumoniae

what type of bacteria?
causes what in children
causes what in adults?

Answer 3

Gram +ve diplococci

o	Otitis media (in children)
o	Pneumonia (in adults)

Question 4

Moraxella catarrhalis (a.k.a Branhamella catarrhalis)

what type of bacteria?
causes what in children
causes what in adults?

Answer 4

Gram –ve diplococci

o	Otitis media (in children)
o	Sinusitis (in adults)
o	Chronic obstructive airway disease, COAD (in adults)

Question 5

• What is cefotaxime?

Why is it really good in children with meningitis?

Answer 5

It is broad spectrum drug and will kill gram positives and gram negatives.

It is used in meningitis in neonates as it has good CSF penetration.

Question 6

What is amoxicillin?

What is it commonly given alongside of?

Answer 6

A broad spectrum β lactam that gives cover to gram positives and negatives. Can be given alongside clavulanic acid (co-amoxiclav) which prevents resistance by inhibiting the bacteria’s β lactamase enzymes. Amoxicillin tastes like bananas.

Question 7

• What does a pale, floppy, quiet baby signify?

Answer 7

very illl

Question 8

• What does a loud, crying, excitable baby signify?

Answer 8

That it’s probably not life-threateningly ill

• What is mastoiditis? A rare and severe

Question 9

• What is mastoiditis?

Answer 9

A rare and severe side effect of otitis media