L29 Gram Negative and Gram Positive Anaerobes Flashcards
What are the medically important Gram positive rod anaerobes?
- Clostridium spp.
- Eubacterium
- Lactobacillus
- Actinomyces
- P. acnes
What are the medically important Gram negative rod anaerobes?
- Bacteroides fragilis group
- Prevotella spp.
- Porphyromonas spp.
- Fusobacterium spp.
What are the medically important Gram positive cocci anaerobes?
- Peptostreptococci
What are the 4 important Clostridium species?
- Perfringens
- Tetani
- Botulinum
- Difficile
What is caused by C. perfringens?
- Gas gangrene (toxin)
- Intra-abdominal infections (vegetative and toxin)
- Food poisoning (toxin)
What are the major structural features of C. perfringens?
- Gram positive
- Non-motile
- Encapsulated
- Forms spores
- Double zone hemolysis
Describe the shape of Clostridium species on a Gram stain.
Box car Gram positive rods
Describe the pathogenesis of gas gangrene.
A trauma occurs and leads to devitalized tissue/muscle. Spores of C. perfringens (and several similar species) germinate quickly. It can affect extremities, endometrium, and the abdominal wall.
What is the most common type of gas gangrene caused by C. perfringens in the U.S.?
Type A
What are the 5 toxins associated with gas gangrene and what do they do?
- Alpha: lecithinase (PLC), lysis of inflammatory cells, tissue destruction
- Beta: enteritis necroticans
- Iota: necrosis and vascular permeability
- Epsilon: systemic vascular permeability
- Theta: cardiotoxic
What are the symptoms of gas gangrene caused by C. perfringens?
- Tense edema
- Bullae formation (filled with substance of a greyish, dish water appearance)
- Necrosis of muscle and skin
- Gas formation
- Can lead to systemic shock and/or hypo- or hyper-thermia
Describe the onset of gas gangrene.
Rapid (6-72 hours)
How is gas gangrene diagnosed?
Clinically (suspicion, Gram stain, culture to confirm)
How is gas gangrene treated?
Debridement (removal of damaged tissue or foreign objects from wound) and antibiotics (penicillin, beta-lactam + inhibitor) + clindamycin to shut down the toxins
Why can C. perfringens cause food poisoning?
Heat resistant spores survive and germinate, leading to enterotoxin production
What is the clinical presentation of food poisoning caused by C. perfringens?
Nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea 8-24 hours after ingestion
Desribe the difference between food poisoning caused by Staph and by C. perfringens.
Staph: pre-formed toxin is already in the food
C. perfringens: spores germinate in the body and produce the toxin
How is C. perfringens diagnosed?
Clinically, culture to confirm
How is C. perfringens treated?
Self-limiting; supportive care only
How is C. tetani spread?
Puncture wounds, burns, umbilicus, local germination without necrosis
What is the neurotoxin associated with C. tetani and how does it function?
Tetanospasmin; blocks post-synpatic inhibition of spinal motor reflexes (GABA), leading to spasmotic contractions
Describe the clinical presentation of C. tetani.
Trismus (lockjaw), risus sardonicus (increased tone of the orbicularis oris), opisthotonus (arm flexion and leg extension), respiratory issues (obstruction, diaphragm)
How does the toxin of C. tetani travel?
Inside the axon, ascends
What are the 3 types of tetanus?
- Localized - rigidity of muscles at site of sporulation (usually precedes generalized)
- Cephalic (cranial nerve musculature)
- Neonatal (failure of aseptic technique)
How is tetanus diagnosed?
Clinically
How is tetanus treated?
Human tetanus immunoglobulin, sedation, control of spasms, supportive (airway)
How is tetanus prevented?
3 doses of DTaP in infancy and re-vaccination every 10 years