Lecture 3 URTI Flashcards
What is the most common cause of step throat
Group A Strep
The LRT has a normal flora, true or false?
False. LRT does not have a normal flora ‘sterile site’ but the URT does.
What part of the respiratory tract helps keeps us uninfected.
Mucus and mucociliary tract
What is the role of the epiglottis
Stop food going into the lungs
What is inflammation of the pharynx called?
Pharyngitis (sore throat)
What microorganisms commonly cause acute epiglottitis
Haemophilus influenzae capsular type B common cause of epiglottis especially in children
H. Influenzae is part of normal flora! Friend vs foe
Also group A beta haemolytic streptococci become more frequent after widespread use of h. Influenzae vaccine.
Name 3 microorganisms that are ‘common residents’ of the URT
Viridians streptococci
C albicans (mouth)
Haemophilus influenzae
Another example is anaerobic microorganisms (e.g.. bacteroides deep within the gum)
Name 2 microorganisms that are ‘occasional residents’ of the URT
Streptococcus pyogenes
Streptococcus pneumoniae
(TRUE PATHOGENS - CARRY FOR SOME TIME THEN PASS ON TO SOMEONE ELSE)
Which microorganisms are associated with colonisation and ‘superinfection’ following antibiotic treatment?
1- coliforms (e. Coli)
2- pseudomonas spp.
3- candida albicans (oral thrush)
Name 3 microorganisms of URT that can be used as part of friend vs foe argument
Candida albicans
Haemophilus influenzae
Streptococcus mutans (normally colonise mouth)
What dental disease can S. mutans cause and why
Dental caries when teeth aren’t brushed properly so s mutans can adhere to enamel and cause biofilms.
What percentage of people are the following ‘residents’ present in:
1- common residents
2- occasional residents
3- organisms associated with colonisation and superinfection following antibiotic treatment
1- >50% of people
2- <10%
3- less than 1%
State the difference between primary and secondary invaders of URT
Primary = successfully infect the healthy respiratory tract; possess mechanism to attach and spread - true pathogens
Secondary = cause disease when host defences are impaired e.g. Normal flora c albicans or primary invaders s. Pneumoniae
Briefly describe how primary invaders are capable of causing disease
(a) adhesion to normal mucosa (in spite of mucociliary system) e.g surface proteins, capsid proteins
(b) avoid host defence e.g. Capsule
(c) ability to damage local tissue (exotoxins/enzymes e.g. Pneumolysin)
Approximately how many different antigenic types are there of rhinovirus
100
What 4 proteins make up the viral capsid that encases the RNA genome
VP1, VP2, VP3, VP4
What is the role of VP1, VP2 AND VP3 proteins in rhinovirus function
They account for virus antigenic diversity
What is the role of VP4 in rhinovirus function
Anchors the RNA core to the capsid.
A canyon in which of the proteins of rhinovirus serves as the site of attachment for cell surface receptors
VP1.
What percentage of HRV serotypes utilise the cell surface receptor ICAM1, and what is the other cell surface receptor used by the ‘minor group’
90% use ICAM-1
Minor group attaches to an enters cells using low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR)
What are risk factors for a secondary invader infection of URT
1- post viral infection (damaged URT from a cold therefore normal flora can worsen situation)
2- compromised immune response (AIDS, cancer chemotherapy, young/elderly, alcoholics)
3- foreign body insertion e..g endotracheal tube for mechanical ventilation.
Name 6 common URTI
Common cold Oral candidiasis Sinusitis Pharyngitis/tonsillitis Acute epiglottitis Otitis (media, externa)
What microorganisms can cause otitis externa
S.aureus or P. Aureginosa
What is the antibiotic therapy of choice for otitis externa for s aureus (considering both penicillin allergy/no penicillin allergy)
penicillin allergy - azithromycin
no penicillin allergy - flucloxacillin (most common)
What is the antibiotic therapy for suspected p aureginosa causing otitis externa
Ciprofloxacin
What is the difference between otitis externa/media
Media is inflammation of the middle ear (often caused by h influenzae, s pneumoniae, s pyogenes, moraxella catarrhalis) accompanied by an ear infection
Externa is inflammatory process of external auditory canal. Discomfort with erythema and swelling of the canal with variable discharge
What is the incubation period common cold
2-4 days
Common symptoms of common cold
Nasal discharge, sneezing and sore throat, maybe temp and headache
What two viruses can cause common cold
RSV and rhinovirus
What two further infections can be caused by the infection descending in URT
Laryngitis and tracheitis
What is the treatment for common cold
Supportive. Not antibiotics. Paracetamol.
What is the clinical manifestation of oral candidiasis
Raw inflamed mucous membranes, white fungal plaques
What are the predisposing factors for oral candidiasis
Broad spectrum antibiotic use (kill normal bacterial flora but allow fungal species to grow)
Contraceptive pill
Systemic steroids
Chemotherapy
Immunosuppression e.g HIV, extremes of age
What does oral candidiasis infection indicate in HIV patients
they are changing from HIV patients to AIDS patients
What organism causes oral candidiasis
C albicans
What treatment is used for oral candidiasis (also consider for severely immunocompromised patients)
Nystatin or clotrimazole pastilles (1 pastille, 4 times a day, for up to 7 days)
HIV patients with severe oral thrush use fluconazole injected intravenously for systemic effect ata dosage of 100mg.