L25 The Enterobacteriaceae I Flashcards
Enterobacteriaceae are a diverse group of Gram ___ ___ (shape).
Negative; rods
Enterobacteriaceae are indigenous to the ___.
GI tract
Enterobacteriaceae colonize the ___ of hospitalized patients.
Respiratory tract
Enterobacteriaceae have ___ growth requirements.
Simple
Enterobacteriaceae are ___ (oxygen growth).
Facultative anaerobes
Describe the structure of Enterobacteriaceae.
- H-antigen: located in the peritrichous flagella (50+ serotypes)
- K-antigen: located in the capsule (80+ serotypes)
- LPS: endotoxin
What is the K-antigen important for?
Causing extraintestinal colonization, UTI, and invasive disease
What are the components of LPS?
- O-antigen: outer-most domain, polysaccharide that gives variability
- Core: attaches O to A
- Lipid A: innermost region; responsible for toxicity
How does Lipid A contribute to the toxicity of Enterobacteriaceae?
When bacterial cells are lysed, fragments of the membrane containing lipid A are released into the circulation, causing fever, diarrhea, and septic shock
What are some of the general virulence factors of Enterobacteriaceae?
- Endotoxins (LPS)
- Capsule
- Antigenic phase variation
- Type III secretion systems
- Sequestration of growth factors
- Resistance to serum killing (capsule)
What is antigenic phase variation?
Altered expression of K and H antigens protects from Ab-mediated cell death
What are the 4 common biochemical characteristics of Enterobacteriaceae?
- Facultative Gram-negative rods
- Ferment glucose
- Reduce nitrate to nitrite
- Oxidase negative
What are the non-lactose fermenting Enterobacteriaceae?
- Salmonella
- Shigella
- Proteus
- Yersinia
- Serratia
What are the lactose fermenting Enterobacteriaceae?
- E. coli
- Klebsiella
- Enterobacter
- Citrobacter
What is the major habitat of Escherichia?
Intestines of humans and animals
Why is the presence of E. coli in water considered an indicator of fecal contamination?
Because of its ubiquitous nature in human and animal feces
Most E. coli infections are ___.
Endogenous
E. coli is the most common gram negative rod to cause ___.
Gram negative sepsis
80% of community acquired ___ are caused by E. coli.
UTIs
In addition to gram negative sepsis and UTIs, what are 4 other clinical syndromes associated with E. coli?
Wound infections, pneumonia in immunocompromised hospitalized patients, meningitis in neonates, gastroenteritis
What are the 5 strains of E. coli that cause gastroenteritis?
- ETEC
- EPEC
- EIEC
- EHEC/STEC
- EAggEC
How does ETEC (enterotoxigenic E. coli) cause gastroenteritis?
Elaboration of secretory toxins that do not damage the mucosal epithelium but that stimulate hypersecretion of fluid
What are the signs and symptoms of gastroenteritis caused by ETEC?
Profuse, watery, secretory diarrhea (traveler’s diarrhea); often accompanied by mild abdominal cramps, dehydration and vomiting occur in some cases.