Lecture 26 Flashcards
Corynebacterium
give another name for leprosy
hansen’s disease
Name the (2) forms of leprosy
tuberculoid
leprometous
What is the etiology of diphtheria (name, gram stain, description of organism)
corynebacterium diphtheria
G+
has granules
palisade arrangement (picket fence)
What is the incubation period for diphtheria?
1-10 days
it is an acute infection
What are the (2) symptoms of diphtheria?
pseudo membrane in the throat
an exotoxin which damages the heart
How do you diagnose diphtheria?
do a gram stain of the pseudo membrane, looking for G+ rods
do PCR to look at DNA (differentiates between diphtheria and diphtheria-like organisms)
How do you transmit diphtheria?
spread by droplets
can survive on surfaces (fomites)
What are some (3) predisposing factors for diphtheria?
being un-immunized
poor nutrition
nose or throat operations
How do you prevent diphtheria?
use the Diphtheria and Tetanus toxoids acellular Pertussis vaccine (DTaP)
contains antigens so you build your own antibodies
How do you treat diphtheria? (2)
Erythromycin- to stop the growth of the infection
Diphtheria anti-toxin vaccine- destroys the toxin using horse antibodies
What is active immunization vs passive immunization?
active- patient builds their own antibodies
passive- patient is injected with someone else’s antibodies
