Microbiology 1

Question 1

Describe the clinical presentation of influenza?

Answer 1

Fever: high, abrupt onset
Malaise
Myalgia
Headache
Cough - initially dry, becomes productive 
Prostration

Question 2

What organisms classically cause the flu?

Answer 2

Influenza A

Influenza B

Question 3

What is the transmission of influenza?

Answer 3

By droplets, or through direct contact with resp secretions of someone with the infection.

Question 4

What are some complications of flu?

Answer 4

• Primary influenzal pneumonia - can be disease of young adults
• Secondary bacterial pneumonia - more common in infants, elderly, pre existing disease etc
• Bronchitis
• Otitis media

Question 5

How would you treat flu?

Answer 5

Bed rest, fluid, paracetamol

Antivirals - oseltamivir, zanamivir

Question 6

How would you confirm/diagnose influenza?

Answer 6

PCR - nasopharyngeal swab, throat swab

Antibody detection - bloods

Question 7

How can you prevent flu (vaccines)?

Answer 7

Killed vaccine - given annually

Live vaccine - offed to children usually (Intra-nasally)

Question 8

What could be some other causes of CAP?

Answer 8

Bacterial causes such as mycoplasma pneumonia, coxiella brunetti, chlamydia

Question 9

How would you usually detect/confirm atypical pneumonia’s like Chlamoydophila psittaci?

Answer 9

By serology - bloods

Virus detection - PCR

Question 10

What is the most common cause of CAP?

Answer 10

Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Person to person spread

Question 11

Describe coxiella burnetii? (Q-fever)

Answer 11

Uncommon

Can cause pneumonia, and pyrexia of unknown origin (Q fever)

Question 12

Describe Chlamidiophila psittaci?

Answer 12

Uncommon
Caught from pets and birds
Headache and fever
Treat with Doxycycline

Question 13

Describe the clinical presentation of bronchiolitis?

Answer 13

Fever
Coryza
Cough
Wheeze

Question 14

What is Bronchiolitis?

Answer 14

Bronchiolitis is inflammation of the bronchioles, the smallest air passages of the lungs.

Question 15

What are some complications of bronchiolitis?

Answer 15

Resp and cardiac failure

Question 16

How do you detect bronchiolitis?

Answer 16

PCR - Throat/pernasal swabs

Question 17

Describe Metapneumovirus?

Answer 17

Most children antibody positive by age 5
found in a wide range of ages
May be second only to RSV in bronchiolitis
Similar symptoms to RSV in both children and adults
Range of severity from mild to requiring ventilation
Confirm with PCR

Question 18

Describe Chlamydia trachomatis?

Answer 18

STI which can cause infantile pneumonia

diagnosed by PCR on urine of mother or pernasal / throat swabs of child

Question 19

Describe Chlamoydophila pneumoniae?

Answer 19

person to person (formerly Chlamydia pneumoniae)
mostly mild respiratory infections
may be picked up by test for Psittacosis