Micro - Pharyngitis, otitis, epiglottitis, sinusitis Flashcards
What is the microbiology of corynebacterium diphtheriae?
Aerobic, non motile, non spore forming, non encapsulated, gram positive rod with clubbed ends
Grows on loeffler’s medium or medium with potassium tellurite
What are the most common causes of pharyngitis?
Young children and adults most commonly viral
Older children usually strep pyogenes (group a), viruses, mycoplasma pneumoniae
How is corynebacterium diphtheriae transmitted?
From patient or asymptomatic carrier through nasopharyngeal secretions or skin lesions
What is a pseudo membrane produced by corynebacterium diphtheriae?
Induced by diphtheria toxin and is dirty grey colored leathery membrane covering tonsils and may extend to larynx
Should NOT be removed because of risks
What is bull neck?
Extensive pseudo membrane from corynebacterium diphtheriae involvement of pharynx associated with cervical adenopathy and severe neck swelling
Accompanying upper airway obstruction
What is the virulence factor of corynebacterium diphtheriae?
Potent exotoxin
Can act locally to produce pseudo membrane or systemically to affect heart or peripheral nerves (effects depend on how much toxin absorbed)
Phage encoded AB toxin - tox gene is necessary and sufficient or disease
B interacts with receptor and A ADP ribosylates EF2 which blocks protein synthesis - one A sufficient to inactivate all EF2 in cell
How can one be immunized against diphtheria?
Antitoxin can treat along with antibiotics
DTaP vaccine - toxoid for diphtheria toxin and tetanus toxin with acellular pertussis components
How can strep be distinguished from other gram positive bacteria?
They do not have catalase - cant break down hydrogen peroxide and have negative reaction
What are the three different kinds of hemolysis by strep?
Alpha - colony surrounded by partial zone of clearing with green coloring, incomplete hemolysis (s. pneumoniae, viridans strep comprising normal oral flora)
Beta - surrounded by clear zone, complete hemolysis (s pyogenes)
Gamma or non - no hemolysis (enterococcus)
What are the lancefield groups?
Further classify beta hemolytic strep based on group specific carbohydrates
How can group a beta hemolytic strep (GABHS) be differentiated from other beta hemolytic strep?
Sensitive to bacitracin
How can GABHS (s. pyogenes) be further classified?
By m protein - cell attachment molecule
Virulence factor that correlates with certain diseases
Antibodies to m protein are protective - humoral immunity is type specific against certain strains only
What are the major virulence factors of s. pyogenes?
Adherence factors - m protein, ECM binding proteins (fibronectin), capsule
Invasion and spread
Toxicity - super antigens, exotoxins
Immune evasion - Ig binding protein, m protein, capsule, c5a peptidase
How is s. pyogenes transmitted?
Air - respiratory droplet
Food - prepared by person with open lesion
Hands
Rare transmission from fomites - bedding, clothing, etc
Most common is direct contact with saliva or nasal discharge from infected person
How does host immunity to GABHS work?
Antibodies against m protein, streptolysin o, or DNAase
Primarily opsonophagocytosis by neutrophils or PMNs
How is GABHS diagnosed?
Culture - aerobic growth, takes 1-2 days
Serology - anti streptolysin o or anti DNAase, minimum few days
Antigen detection - rapid detection of group a antigen directly from swab, minutes
Which types of strep infections cause which delayed sequelae?
Throat infection can cause either rheumatic fever or glomerulonephritis
Skin inf only causes glomerulonephritis
What are the suppurative vs. the toxin mediated diseases caused by strep?
Suppurative - pharynx, skin or soft tissue infection, other sites
Toxin mediated - scarlet fever, streptococcal TSS
What is the epidemiology of tonsillopharyngitis?
Children 5-15 yrs
Asymptomatic carriage can happen
Incubation 2-4 days
What are some key clinical features of strep?
Tonsil liar exudate
Soft palate petechiae
Can be distinguished from viruses by virus also having conjunctivitis, hoarseness, runny nose
How is strep treated?
Make sure treat only bacterial, not viral
IV penicillin if severe
I’m benzathine penicillin, one shot
Oral penicillin or amoxil for ten days
Oral macrolide or cephalosporin if allergy to penicillin