Leptospirosis Flashcards
Leptospirosis is hard to culture on
Regular mediums
Leptospirosis survives in
Fresh water for several months
Leptospirosis infects via
Oral mucosa
Conjunctiva
Broken down skin
Leptospirosis has a large number of
Serovars that are pathogenic to humans
Clinical presentation of leptospirosis
Chameleon
Flu like illness
Saddle or biphasic fever
Bacteremic phase
Initial bacteria in the blood stream-fever with other nonspecific symptoms
Immune phase
Organ infection with immune response
Weil’s disease is characterized by
Organ failure:kidney liver and heart Fever Pulmonary hemorrhage Disseminated intravascular coagulation Hypotension Shock
What percentage of symptoms for leptospirosis is asymptomatic
90%
Leptospirosis is centered in
Tropical areas where moist environment and poverty coincide
Also world-wide
Floods, monsoons shared animal/human reservoir
Direct infection of leptospirosis seen in what exposures
Slaughter house
Veterinarian
Rice-farmers
Cane-field workers
Rodent or other mammals infected with leptospirosis disseminate live bacteria through
Their urine
Live freely in moist soil or surface water
Diagnosis of leptospirosis
Can be confirmed with serological testing direct visualization on biopsy with either dark field microscopy or Silver stain and cultures
Treatment of Leptospirosis include
Prophylaxis like doxycycline
For mild disease doxycycline or amoxicillin
For moderate to severe disease penicillin or ceftriaxone
Occasionally treatment of Leptospirosis is associated with
Jarisch herxeheimer reaction
