LECTURE - Clostridium Flashcards

1
Q

Which Clostridium does not form spores typically?

A

C. perfringens

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2
Q

C perfringens

A
  • gram pos spore-forming
  • found in many environmental sources as well as intestines of humans and animals
  • one of the most common causes of food poisoning in NA
  • can cause gas gangrene in deep wound infections
  • double zone hemolysis (bulls eye)
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3
Q

common food sources of C. perfringens

A
  • beef, poultry, gravies and dried or pre-cooked foods

- when foods are prepared in large quantities and kept warm for a long time before serving

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4
Q

symptoms of C. perfringens food poisoning

A
  • diarrhea
  • abdominal cramps
  • lasts less than 24 h
  • ppl infected usually do not have fever or vomiting
  • not passed from one person to another
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5
Q

T or F. C. perfringens toxins are pre-formed

A

F! not pre-formed; made by bacteria in gut

Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (CPE)

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6
Q

C. diff

A
  • Clostridioides
  • gram pos spore-forming anaerobic; shed in feces
  • any surface, device o material that becomes contaminated w feces can become a reservoir (toilets, bath tubs, etc,)
  • longer gram pos rods typically than other clostridium species
  • C. diff spores mainly transferred to patients via hands of healthcare personnel
  • can survive for long periods of time on surfaces
  • dangerous cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis
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7
Q

C. botulinum

A
  • gram pos spore-forming anaerobic rod
  • spores found in soil and can germinate anaerobically in improperly prepared food Or in deep puncture foods
  • subterminal spores (like a head at the end)
  • canned veggies
  • fermented seal flipper
  • botulinum toxin one of the most potent biologic toxins found in nature and cause life-threatening flaccid paralysis
  • doesn’t take a lot of toxins!
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8
Q

C. tetani

A
  • gram pos spore-forming motile anaerobic rod
  • spores are found in the soil and can germinate anaerobically in puncture wounds (dirty, rusty nails)
  • tetanus toxin (tetanospasmin) = life-threatening spastic paralysis
  • easily preventable with tetanus toxoid vaccination as part of regular childhood immunizations
  • boosters every 12-14 yrs
  • all muscles fire at same time (spasm); unlike C botulinum where it’s a flaccid paralysis
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9
Q

opisthotonos

A
  • spasm of the muscles causing backward arching of the head, neck, and spine, as in severe tetanus
  • accompanied with lockjaw
  • grimace
  • tetani starts with face
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10
Q

how can tetanus spores be introduced?

A

deep into the skin by a puncture wound or through practice of packing a newborn’s umbilical stump with dirt

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11
Q

Which Clostridium species are endogenous?

A

C. diff and C. perfringens

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12
Q

main disease presentations of C. perfringens

A

food poisoning
wound infections
gas gangrene

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13
Q

T or F. Antibiotics are NOt recommended for C. perfringens

A

T

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14
Q

CPE

A
  • C. perfringens enterotoxin
  • hexamer
  • gets released during sporulation
  • after binding of CPE to certain claudins, Ca 2+-permeable pores are formed
  • Ca 2+ influx rather than interaction with TJ protein receptors itelf induces opening of paracellular barrier
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15
Q

C. diff toxin and C. perfringens type E’s iota toxin (ITX)

A
  • use lipolysis-stimukated lipoprotein receptor LSR
    > a tricellular TJ protein; receptor
  • locking actin in the G state by ADP ribosylation leads to disorgamizqtion of actin filaments and thus to barrier disruption and cell death
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16
Q

this has lecithinase

A

C. perfirngens

  • a phospholipase (alpha toxin)
  • dbl zone hemolysis
17
Q

botulinum toxin

A
  • nicked toxin -> binds neurons -> internalized

- prevents Ach release (stops nerve pulse transmission)

18
Q

three ways to get botulism

A
  • food-borne (toxin ingested)
  • infant botulism (spores ingested => grows in GI)
  • wound botulism (spores in wound => C. botulinum grows in wound

ALL: => bloodstream => flaccid paralysis)

19
Q

hypotonia

A

decreased muscle tone

- botulism

20
Q

these toxins are both zinc endopeptidases

A

C. tetani and C. botulinum

- cleave molecules like synaptobrevin found in the synaptic vesicles of neurons

21
Q

markedly different effects of C. tetani vs. C. botulinum in vivo are due to:

A
  • specific proteins cleaved by each toxin and….
  • botulinum toxin prevents Ach release that activates stimulatory neurons; whereas tetanus toxin prevents release of glycine and gamma-aminobutyric acid that activate inhibitory neurons