Medicinally Important Bacteria Flashcards
Streptococcus. What form do they exist as and what is their metabolism? Give an Example
G+ve - e.g Streptococcus Pneumoniae
Facultative Anaerobes that exist as chains or pairs of cocci
What infections can S.Pneumoniae cause
wide range of infections ranging from conjunctivitis to acute pneumonia and bacterial meningitis
S.Pyogenes. What can it do to humans?
cause wound sepsis. It produces toxins and haemolysins which cause tissue necrosis
Staphylococcus. State examples and what it’s respiration state is
S.Aureus - common in nose and exists as all staphylococcus are facultative anaerobes in the form of clusters of cocci
Where is S.Aureus found and describe it’s character
Common in nasal passages. Facultative and is an opportunistic pathogen. Can be Responsible for progenic wound infection, food poisoning and toxic shock syndrome. Pneumonia too!
Enterococci. 2 examples and what how they respire
Enterococci Faecalis and E.Faecium (gut commensals)
facultative anaerobes
describe what E.Faecalis and E.Faecium can do in a particular type of patients
They’re Gut commensals and opportunistic pathogens in the immunocomprimised.
They can produce cytolytic toxins.Cause UTI’s, wound infections and endocarditis
State two gram positive rods
Bacilli Anthracis and Listeria Monocytogenes
Bacilli characteristics
Rod shaped and can form Endospores. Exist as Anaerobic or Facultative Anaerobes
Describe how B.Anthracis causes infections
Soil Organism, causes opportunistic infections of wounds or lungs by spores. Necrotic cytotoxins cause pathology - usually fatal if inhaled
Describe characteristics of Listeria
Non-endospore forming rod-shaped facultative anaerobes
what does L. Monocytogenes do?
it contaminates meat and milk and can grow in a fridge. it may invade phagocytes and cause fatal meningitis in immunocomprimised patients or SPONTANEOUS abortion in pregnant women
Clostridia - describe their characteristics
Gram positive endospore-forming rod shaped obligate anaerobes.
Describe C.Difficile to me
It’s a common intestinal organism that may become predominant after broad spectrum Abx Therapy.
Causes: Haemorrhagic necrosis in intestine and Explosive Diarrhoea
