Microbiology Flashcards
Give 5 examples of broad-spectrum antibiotics.
Broad
- Co-amoxiclav
- Ceftriaxone
- Doxycycline
- Tetracycline
Very-broad
- Tazocin
- Meropenem
What are the 4 different mechanisms of antibiotics.
Inhibit cell wall synthesis
Inhibit protein synthesis
DNA/nucleic acid synthesis inhibitors
Inhibit folate synthesis
What 2 subtypes of antibiotics are inhibitors of cell wall synthesis?
- Beta-lactams
- Glycopeptides
What 5 subtypes of antibiotics are inhibitors of protein synthesis?
- Chloramphenicol
- Aminoglycosides
- Lincosamide
- Macrolides
- Tetracyclines
What 3 subtypes of antibiotics are DNA/nucleic acid synthesis inhibitors?
- Quinolones
- Nitroimidazoles
- Miscellaneous - Rifampicin
What subtype of antibiotics is a inhibitor of folate synthesis?
Sulphonamides
Name some beta-lactams.
Penicillin
Cephalosporins
Carbapenems
Name some glycopeptides.
Vancomycin
Teicoplanin
Name some tetracyclines.
End in -cycline
- Tetracycline
- Doxycycline
Name some aminoglycosides.
End in -cin
- Gentamycin
- Amikacin
Name some macrolides.
End in -mycin
- Erythromycin
- Clarithromycin
Name some oxazolidinones.
End in - zolid
- Linezolid
Name some quinolones.
End in -xacin
- Ciprofloxacin
- Ofloxacin
Name some nitroimidazoles.
- End in azole
Metronidazole
Name some sulphonamides.
Trimethoprim
Septrin
What is the mechanisms of glycopeptides?
Cell wall synthesis inhibitors
What is the mechanisms of aminoglycosides?
Binds/blocks amino-acyl site of 30S ribosomal subunits
What is the mechanisms of tetracyclines?
Reversibly bind to ribosomal 30S subunit
- Bacteriostatic
What is the mechanisms of macrolides?
Binds/blocks 50S subunits of ribosomes
What is the mechanisms of oxazolidinones?
Protein synthesis inhibitor via 23S of 50S subunit inhibition
What is the mechanisms of nitroimidazole?
DNA synthesis inhibition
What is the mechanisms of the penicillins?
Transpeptidase inhibitor - weakens cell walls
- Bactericidal
How well do penicillin’s penetrate into the CNS?
Not well
- Can only do so in inflamed meningitis
What bacteria is penicillin active against?
Gram +ve
- Strep
- Clostridium
What bacteria is IV benzylpenicillin (Penicillin G) most and least effective against?
Very effective = strep - particularly strep A sore throat
Least effective = gut bacteria
How does flucloxacillin differ from penicillin?
Not broken down by beta lactamase produced by Staph aureus = BL resistant
- Develops resistance through alteration of target
Chemically similar to penicillin but less active
What are the clinical uses of flucloxacillin?
Staph aureus
Skin infections
How do amoxicillin and piperacillin differ to penicillin and what are the similarities?
Developed as a broad-spectrum penicillin - extended coverage compared to penicillin to cover enterococcus and some gram-neg organisms
Better absorbed
Similar as it is broken down by beta lactamase produce by Staph aureus and many gram neg organisms
What are the clinical uses of amoxicillin?
First line for pneumonia
What are the clinical uses of ampicillin?
Listeria
- Listeriosis - severe sepsis, meningitis, or encephalitis
What are the clinical uses of piperacillin?
Hospital acquired infections
Name 2 beta lactamase inhibitors.
Clavulanic acid
Tazobactam
What is co-amoxiclav?
What are the clinical uses of co-amoxiclav?
Amoxicillin + clavulanic acid
Covers haemophilus influenzae and staph
- Severe CAP
- Staph skin infections
What is tazocin?
What are the clinical uses of tazocin?
Piperacillin + tazobactam
Covers gram positive, negatives, anaerobes, pseudomonas and beta-lactamases but NOT MRSA
- CF, bronchiectasis cover/prophylaxis
- Neutropenic sepsis
- Severe pseudomonas - administered with aminoglycoside for synergistic effect
What percentage of penicillin allergies cross-react with carbapenems or cephalosporins?
5-10%
What alternative antibiotics should be used in patients with penicillin allergies?
If just rash = cephalosporin
If anaphylaxis = alternative
- Doxycycline for pneumonia
- Erythromycin for impetigo
What is the mechanism of cephalosporins?
Beta-lactams
How well do cephalosporins penetrate into the CNS?
Good penetration - used for meningitis
What bacteria are cephalosporins active against?
Very broad spectrum
Gram positive, some cover over proteus, E.coli and Klebsiella (UTI)
- Higher generations are less gram positive and more negative
Name some 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation cephalosporins.
1st = Cefalexin
2nd = Cefuroxime
3rd = Ceftriaxone, Cefotaxime, Ceftazidime
- All have t in the name
What is the cover of 2nd generation cephalosporins/cefuroxime?
Stable to many beta lactamases produced by gram negative
Similar cover to co-amoxiclav but less active against anaerobes (abdominal/gut infections)
What is the cover of 3rd generation cephalosporins?
More activity against gram -ve and less against gram +ve - still very broad-spectrum
Really good CNS penetration - bacterial meningitis
Used in HAPs
Do not cover Listeria
What is the serious side effect of ceftriaxone?
C. diff
Name 2 carbapenems.
Meropenem
Imipenem
What bacteria are carbapenems active against?
Very broad spectrum
Used for severe infections when beta-lactams would not work - usually not first line
What are the indications for carbapenems?
Extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)
Pseudomonas
Anaerobes
Sepsis of unknown origin
Severe abdominal infections
Does carbapenems resistance exist?
Carbpenemase enzymes becoming more widespread - in multi-drug resistant acinetobacter and klebsiella species and now in more
What bacteria are glycopeptides active against?
Gram +ve
- Too larger molecule to pass through Gram -ve outer membrane
What are the side/adverse effects of glycopeptides?
Nephrotoxic
Ototoxic - Vancomycin more so than
Teicoplanin
Vancomycin has narrower therapeutic range so easier to overdose so need monitoring
Vancomycin can cause red man syndrome - sudden onset erythematous, pruritic rash on face, neck, upper torso
What bacteria are tetracyclines active against?
Intracellular bacteria - no cell wall
- e.g. Mycoplasma and chlamydia
What are the indications for tetracyclines?
Chlamydia (doxycycline)
TB
MRSA
What are the draw backs off tetracyclines?
Widespread resistance
Contraindicated in children and pregnant women (deposit in growing bones, discolouration in growing teeth)
Light-sensitive rash so be cautious in sun
What bacteria are aminoglycosides active against?
Gram -ve
What are the indications for aminoglycosides?
Blood and urinary sepsis
Pseudomonas (gentamicin or tobramycin)
Endocarditis - synergistic with beta-lactams for multi-drug resistance
What are the side/adverse effects of aminoglycosides?
Nephrotoxic and Ototoxic - requires therapeutic drug monitoring
What bacteria are macrolides active against?
Gram +ve
What are the indications for macrolides?
Mild staph or strep in penicillin-allergic patients or pregnant patients (safe in pregnancy)
Campylobacter or legionella
What bacteria are chloramphenicol active against?
Very broad-spectrum
What are the indications for chloramphenicol?
Meningitis or strep pneumoniae - in penicillin allergy
Eye infections
What are the side/adverse effects of chloramphenicol?
Aplastic anaemia
Grey baby syndrome in neonates due to reduced metabolic activity
What bacteria are oxazolidinones active against?
Only Gram +ve
- MRSA and VRE
What are the indications for oxazolidinones?
MRSA and VRE
What are the side/adverse effects of oxazolidinones?
Thrombocytopenia (relatively common)
Optic neuritis with prolonged use
What bacteria are quinolones active against?
Both Gram +ve and -ve
- especially -ve
What is an advantage of quinolones opposed to other antibiotic types?
Very well orally absorbed
What are the indications for quinolones?
UTI and pyelonephritis
Pneumonia
Atypical pneumonia
Bacterial gastroenteritis
Chlamydia
What are the side/adverse effects of quinolones?
Achilles tendonitis
C diff
What bacteria are nitroimidazoles active against?
Anaerobic bacteria
Protozoa
What are the indications for nitroimidazoles?
C diff
Parasites - entamoeba, giardia, trichomonas
What are the side/adverse effects of nitroimidazoles?
Avoid alcohol - severe reaction causing vomiting, SOB, flushing
- Metronidazole it is the 1 antibiotic were it must be avoided
Why is nitrofurantoin useful for UTIs?
Accumulates in the bladder - not systemically absorbed
- best to take just after the patient has gone to the toilet so it stays in the bladder longer
What is the empirical treatment of a lower UTI?
Nitrofurantoin
- could consider co-amoxiclav
- trimethoprim isn’t used much now due to resistance
What is the treatment for pyelonephritis?
Co-amoxiclav + gentamicin
What are the 4 resistance mechanisms??
- Inactivation/chemical modification of antibiotic
- Altered target
- Reduced antibiotic accumulation
- Bypass antibiotic-sensitive step in cell division
What percentage of resistance means empirical use is no longer advised?
>10%
What resistance mechanism is used by MRSA?
- Beta-lactamase
- mecA gene - encodes new PBP2a penicillin-binding protein
What resistance mechanism is used by strep pneumoniae?
PBP gene mutations
- low-level resistance can be overcome by increasing the dose
How do some bacteria become resistant to macrolides?
Methylation of ribosomal subunit - reduces binding of macrolides
Define minimum inhibitory concentration.
Minimum about of drug needed to limit the growth of an organism
Define break-point in terms of antibiotics.
Concentration of antibiotic that it becomes clinically useful
What are the routes of pathogen entry into the CNS?
- Haematogenous (e.g. pneumococcus, meningococcus) - MOST COMMON
- Direct implantation (e.g. penetrative trauma, surgery)
- Local extension (e.g. from the ear)
- PNS into CNS (e.g. rabies)
Define Meningitis.
Inflammation of the meninges and CSF
Define Meningoencephalitis.
Inflammation of the meninges and brain parenchyma.
What are the routes of neurological damage due to meningitis?
- Direct bacterial toxicity
- Indirect inflammatory process and cytokine release and oedema
- Shock, seizures and cerebral hypoperfusion
What are the causes of acute meningitis?
- Neisseria meningitidis
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Haemophilus influenzae
- Other
- Listeria monocytogenes
- Group B Streptococcus
- Escherichia coli
- Rare
- TB, S. aureus, T. pallidum, Cryptococcus neoformans
What types of rash occur due to Neisseria meningitidis infection?
- Non-blanching rash (80% of children)
- Maculopapular rash (13% of children)
- No rash (7% of children)
What percentage of patients infected with Neisseria meningitidis suffer from meningitis, septicaemia and both?
- 50% have meningitis
- 10% have septicaemia
- 40% have meningitis AND septicaemia
What causes of acute meningitis have a bimodal (children/neonates and elderly) distribution?
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
- E coli
What cause of acute meningitis is found in blue cheese and mayonnaise?
Listeria monocytogenes
What are the 4 key features/processes of septicaemia?
- Capillary leakage
- Coagulopathy
- Metabolic derangement
- Myocardial failure
What are the signs and symptoms of meningitis?
- Fever
- Headache
- Stiff neck
- Some disturbance of brain function - not usually severe and/or to all brain functions
What are the signs and symptoms of encephalitis?
- Widespread disturbance to brain function
What are the signs and symptoms of myelitis?
- Disturbance to nerve transmission
What are the signs of neurotoxin - tetanus?
Rigid paralysis
What are the signs of neurotoxin - botulism?
Flaccid paralysis
What are the causes of chronic meningitis?
- TB
- Spirochetes
Define Chronic meningitis.
Meningitis that takes several days and up to weeks to develop
- Similar presentation as acute
- Far lower mortality (0.00005% compared to 10%)
What group of patients are more susceptible to chronic meningitis?
Immunosuppressed
What are the complications of chronic meningits?
- Tuberculous granulomas
- Tuberculous abscesses
- Cerebritis
What are the causes of Aseptic meningitis?
- Viral
- Coxsackie group B
- Echoviruses
- Herpes
- Developing world – Mumps, Measles, Varicella zoster, EBV
What are the features of aseptic meningitis?
- Presentation: headache, stiff neck, photophobia
- Non-specific rash may accompany these symptoms
- Usually occurs in children <1 year
- Self-limiting disease that resolves in 1-2 weeks
Define Encephalitis.
Inflammation of the brain parenchyma.
What are the routes of transmission for causes of encephalitis?
- Person-to-person
- Vectors - mosquitoes, lice, ticks)
What are the causes of viral encephalitis?
- Viruses = 80-90%
- Most common
- UK = HSV-2
- Worldwide = Arboviruses but becoming West Nile Virus
What are non-viral causes of encephalitis?
- Bacterial
- Listeria monocytogenes
- Amoeba
- Naegleria fowleri
- Acanthamoeba spp.
- Balamuthia mandrillaris
- Toxoplasmosis (obligate intracellular protozoal parasite – Toxoplasma gondii)
What are the features of toxoplasmosis encephalitis?
- Spread via the faeco-oral, transplacental or organ transplant route
- Causes severe infection in immunocompromised patients
- Affected organs = grey & white matter of brain, retinas, alveolar lining of lungs, heart, skeletal muscle
What is the pathophysiology of brain abscesses?
- Direct extension (e.g. otitis media, mastoiditis, para-nasal sinuses)
- Occasionally spread haematogenously (e.g. endocarditis)
- Cause death due to pressure-related issues
What are the causative organisms for brain abscesses?
- Streptococci (anaerobic and aerobic)
- Staphylococci
- Gram-negative organisms (mainly in neonates)
- TB, fungi, parasites, actinomyces and Nocardia species
What are the risk factors for spinal infections?
- Age
- IVDU
- Long-term systemic steroids
- Diabetes mellitus
- Organ transplantation
- Malnutrition
- Cancer
What are the appropriate investigations for suspected CNS infections?
- MRI > CT
- In detecting parenchymal abnormalities such as abscesses and infarctions
- Suspected meningitis
- Blood culture
- Throat swab
- Blood PCR
- CSF Studies:
- Colour/clarity
- Cell counts
- Chemistry
- Stains
- Cultures
- PCR
What are normal CSF results?
- Clear
- 0-5 leukocytes
- 0.15-0.4 g/L of protein
- 2.2-3.3 mmol/L of glucose - 60% of blood glucose
What are the CSF results for bacterial/purulent meningitis?
- Turbid
- 100-2000 polymorphs
- Positive Gram stain/antigen test
- 0.5-3.0 g/L of protein
- 0-2.2 mmol/L of glucose
What are the CSF results for aseptic meningitis?
- Clear or slightly turbid
- 15-500 lymphocytes
- Negative Gram stain/antigen test
- 0.5-1.0 g/L of protein
- 2.2-3.2 mmol/L of glucose - normal
What are the CSF results for Tuberculous meningitis?
- Clear or slightly turbid
- 30-500 lymphocytes or some polymorphs
- Negative Gram stain/antigen test - Positive Acid fast bacilli
- 1.0-6.0 g/L of protein
- 0.2-2.2 mmol/L of glucose
Gram positive cocci
- S. Pneumoniae
- Alpha-haemolytic diplococcus
Gram negative cocci
- Diplococcus
- N meningitidis
Gram positive rod
- L. monocytogenes
M. Tuberculosis
- Hx: MSM, 3/7 history
- High opening pressure on LP
- HOP pathogenomic of C. neoformans
- Occurs in immunocompromised people
Cryptococcus neoformans
What are the limitations of the diagnostic techniques used in CNS infections?
- MRI oedema pattern and moderate mass effect cannot be differentiated from tumour or stroke or vasculitis
- Serology may not be useful in early stages of infection
- Difficulties obtaining sufficient CSF
- PCR techniques are expensive
- Methods to detect amoebic infections
- Availability of good laboratory technique
What is the management of meningitis?
- Aciclovir - 10mg/kg IV TDS
- Ceftriaxone - 2g IV BD
- If 50+ years or immunocompromised add Amoxicillin 2g IV 4 hourly - for L. monocytogene cover
What is the management of meningo-encephalitis?
- Aciclovir - 10mg/kg IV TDS
- Ceftriaxone - 2g IV BD
- If 50+ years or immunocompromised add Amoxicillin 2g IV 4 hourly
What are the adjunctive therapies for CNS infections?
- Corticosteroids - don’t give without speaking to a specialist, but it can be useful for cerebral oedema
- Repeat LP
- Public health
Define Fungi.
Eukaryotic organisms possessing chitinous cell walls, plasma membranes containing ergosterol and 80S RNA
What are the kinds of fungi?
- Yeasts → single celled, reproduce by budding
- Candida
- Cryptococcus
- Histoplasma (dimorphic)
- Moulds → multicellular hyphae, grow by branching and extension
- Dermatophytes
- Aspergillus
- Agents of mucormycoses
Which is the commonest cause of fungal infection in humans?
- Aspergillus spp
- Dermatophytes
- Candida spp
- Cryptococcus spp
- Pneumocystis jiroveci
Candida spp
You are an FY1 on the MFE ward. The nurse looking after F bay bleeps you
“Doctor, Mr A in F 4 is complaining of a painful mouth and his tongue looks strange..’
Oral candidiasis
‘Whilst you’re here doctor, Mrs B has a rash on her groin… Could you look at it please?’
Cutaneous candidiasis
What is the management of superfifcial candida infections?
- Topical
- Oral thrush = Nystati
- Vulvovaginitis = Co-trimazole
- Localised cutaneous = Co-trimazole
- Oral
- Vulvovaginitis = Fluconazole
- Oesophagitis = Fluconazole
1
What are the risk factors for candidaemia?
- Malignancies → esp haematological
- Burns patients
- Complicated post-op courses → eg Tx or GIT Sx
- Long line
What are the appropriate investigations for suspected candidaemia?
- Look for source and signs of dissemination
- Imaging
- Serology for beta-D-glucan
- ECHO
- Fundoscopy
What is the management of candidaemia?
- Antifungals for at least 2/52 (from date of first –ve BC)
- Echinocandin eg anidulafungin - whilst a/w identification and susceptibilities
- BC every 48 hours
- Remove any lines/prosthetic material
What are the causes and management of CNS candida infection?
Causes = dissemination, trauma, Sx
Treatment = ambisome/voriconazole
What are the causes and management of endocarditis candida?
Causes = abnormal valves/prosthetic valves, long lines, IVDU
Treatment = ambisome/voriconazole
What are the causes and management of urinary tract candida?
Causes = ascending vulvovaginits, catheters
Treatment = fluconazole
What are the causes and management of bone and joint candida?
Causes = dissemination, trauma
Treatment = ambisome/voriconazle
What are the causes and management of intra-abdominal candida?
Causes = peritoneal dialysis, perforation
Treatment =echinocandin/fluconazole
What group of patients get infected by cryptococcus?
- Serotypes A&D = C neoformans = Immunodeficient
- Serotypes B&C = C gattii = Immunocompetent
Which animal is Cryptococcus associated with?
- Bats
- Pigeons
- Dogs
- Rats
- Camel
Pigeons
What are the risk factors for cryptococcosis?
- Impaired T-cell immunity → e.g patients with HIV, who have reduced CD4 helper T-cell numbers
- Patients taking T-cell immunosuppressants for solid organ transplant - also have a 6% lifetime risk
You’re the FY1 on the medical take. A patient known to the HIV team and has refused ARVs has presented with fever, headache and confusion. Your SpR has asked you to go and review the patient and clerk them in.
Below is their MRI. What is the diagnosis?
Multiple cryptococcomas in the brain
What type of ink is used for a cryptococcal stain?
- India
- Congo
- Sudan
- Tibet
- Laos
India
What are the appropriate investigations for suspected cryptococcomas in the brain?
- Typical clinical history/features - immunosuppressed host etc
- Imaging
- India ink staining of CSF
- Serum/CSF cryptococcal Ag (CRAG)
- Culture from blood/body fluids
What is the management of cryptococcomas in the brain/invasive cryptococcus?
- Induction = Amphotericin B + Flucytosine (at least 2/52)
- Consolidation = High dose fluconazole (at least 8/52)
- Maintenance = Low dose fluconazole (at least 1 year)
- Repeat LP for pressure management
- Pulmonary disease → If mild = Fluconazole alone
What is the spectrum of diseases caused by aspergillus?
- Mycotoxicosis → ingestion of contaminated foods
- Allergy and sequelae → presence of conidia/transient growth of the organism in body orifices
- Colonization → in preformed cavities and debilitated tissues
- Invasive → invasive, inflammatory, granulomatous, necrotizing disease of lungs, and other organs
- Systemic and fatal disseminated disease
You are the FY1 on a respiratory ward. Your consultant has referred a patient from clinic who is experiencing heamoptysis and weight loss. PMHx includes treated pulmonary TB. With the CXR what investigations should be ordered and what is the likely diagnosis?
- Investigations
- Imaging
- Sputum/BAL – MC&S, Ag testing
- Aspergillus Abs (precipitans)
- Galactomannan
- Diagnosis = Aspergillus granuloma in the right upper lobe
What is the management of invasive asperillosis?
- Voriconazole
- Ambisome
- Duration based on host/radiological/mycological factors → at least 6/52
What is unique about pneumocystis jiroveci?
Lacks ergosterol in it’s cell wall
What infection does pneumocystis jiroveci cause?
Pneumonia (PCP) → extrapulmonary disease is very rare
What are the risk factors for pneumocystis jiroveci/PCP?
- Immunodeficiency
- Immunosuppressive drugs
- Debilitated infants
- Severe protein malnutrition
You are the FY1 on the renal team. You have been asked to go and review a patient in the renal assessment unit who has a cough and SOB. The nurse tells you that the patient is desaturating when she walks. The patient is also on high-dose immunosuppressants. What are the appropriate investigations and what is the diagnosis?
- Investigations
- CXR
- Microscopy
- PCR
- Beta-D-glucan
- Diagnosis = PCP
What is the management of PCP?
- High dose cotrimoxazole 2-3/52
- Alternatives: atovaquone, clindamycin + primaquine
- Steroids if hypoxia present
Why might antifungals targeting the cell membrane not work in PCP?
- It lacks ergosterol in it’s cell wall
- It’s a prtozoa
- It lacks β-D-glucan
- They interact with ARVs
- Antifungals targeting the cell membrane to not penetrate the chest
It lacks ergosterol in it’s cell wall
What is mucormycosis?
- Clinical syndrome caused by a number of fungal species belonging to the order
- Mucorales eg Rhizopus, Rhizomucor, Mucor
- Inoculation via inhalation of spores or primary cutaneous inoculation
- Risk factors = immunosuppressed/diabetic patients
What are the clinical features of mucormycosis?
- Rhinocerebral → CNS
- Cellulitis of the orbit and face with discharge of black pus from the palate and nose
- Retro-orbital extension produces proptosis, chemosis, ophthalmoplegias and blindness
- As the brain is involved, there are decreasing levels of consciousness
- Pulmonary
- Cutaneous
What is the management of mucomycosis?
- Ambisome/Posaconazole
- Symptom control
- Rx guided by response
What are dermatophytes?
- A group of fungi capable of invading dead keratin of skin, hair and nails
- Classified by site infected e.g tinea capitis
- Spread via contact with desquamated skin scales
What are the risk factors for dermatophyte infection?
- Moisture
- Deficiencies in cell mediated immunity
- Genetic predisposition
What are the appropriate investigations for suspected dermatophyte infection?
Skin scrapings, nail specimens and plucked hairs → MC&S
What is the management of dermatophyte infection?
- Topical - eg clotrimazole, ketoconazole
- Oral - eg griseofulvin, terbinafine, itraconazole
What are the targets for antifungal therapy?
What antifungals target the cell membrane?
-
Azoles
- Ketoconazole
- Itraconazole
- Fluconazole
- Voriconazole
- Miconazole
- Clotrimazole (and other topicals)
-
Polyene antibiotics
- Amphotericin B
- Nystatin (topical)
What is the mechanism of action of azoles?
-
Azoles bind to lanosterol 14a-demethylase inhibiting the production of ergosterol
- Some cross-reactivity is seen with mammalian cytochrome p450 enzymes
- Drug Interactions
- Impairment of steroidogenesis (ketoconazole, itraconazole)
- Some cross-reactivity is seen with mammalian cytochrome p450 enzymes
What is the mechanism of action of polyene antibiotics?
- Binds sterols in fungal cell membrane
- Creates transmembrane channel and electrolyte leakage
- Active against most fungi → EXCEPT Aspergillus terreus, Scedosporium spp
What antifungals target the cell wall?
- Echinocandins
- Caspofungin acetate (Cancidas)
What is the mechanism of action of echinocandins?
- Cyclic lipopeptide antibiotics that interfere with fungal cell wall synthesis by inhibition of ß-(1,3) D-glucan synthase
- Loss of cell wall glucan results in osmotic fragility
What antifungals target the fungal DNA/RNA synthesis?
- Pyrimidine analogues
- Flucytosine
How has flucytosine resistance developed and what is the mechanism of resistance?
- Acquired Resistance
- Result of monotherapy
- Rapid onset
- Mechanism
- Decreased uptake (permease activity)
- Altered 5-FC metabolism
Define R0.
Number of people that one sick person will infect on average → i.e. the basic reproductive rate
- Must be in a totally susceptible population
- If the R0 is reduced to <1 transmission of disease is halted; whereas if >1 tramission is accelerating
- Measles R0 = 18
Define Herd Immunity.
Herd Immunity = a form of immunity that occurs when vaccination of a significant proportion of the population provides a measure of protection for individuals that are not immune
- HIT = Herd Immunity Threshold
- 𝐻𝑒𝑟𝑑 𝐼𝑚𝑚𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑇ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑑 = 1 − 1/𝑅0
- % of fully immune people required to stop the spread
- 𝐻𝑒𝑟𝑑 𝐼𝑚𝑚𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑇ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑑 = 1 − 1/𝑅0
What type of vaccines are there?
- Inactivated → whole micro-organisms destroyed by heat/chemicals/radiation/antibiotics
- Live Attenuated → modified live organism that is less virulent
- Viral Vectored → modified virus to deliver genetic code for an antigen
- Nucleic Acid vaccines → DNA/RNA from pathogen in lipid capsule
- Toxoid → inactivated toxin
- Subunit → protein components of the micro-organism
- Conjugate → poorly immunogenic antigens are paired with a protein that is highly immunogenic
- Heterotypic → pathogens that infect other animals but don’t cause severe disease in humans
Name some inactivated vaccines?
- Influenza
- Polio (IPV = inactivated)
- Cholera
Name some live attenuated vaccines?
- MMR
- Yellow fever
Name some viral vectored vaccines?
- Ebola
- Janzzen and AZ Covid-19
Name some nucleic acid vaccines?
- Pfizer and Moderna Covid-19
Name some toxoid vaccines?
- Diphtheria
- Tetanus
Name some subunit vaccines?
- HBV
- HPV
Name some conjugate vaccines?
- NHS bacteria vaccines
Name some heterotypic vaccines?
- BCG - uses bovine strain
What are the differences between monovalent and multivalent vaccines?
- Monovalent = targeting one strain
- Multivalent = targets several strains
What are the common components of vaccines
- Active Component
- Stabilisers - substances added to keep it chemically stable for transport from the site of production to the site of use
- Adjuvants - AL(OH)3 is a commonly used adjuvant
- Preservatives
- Antibiotics - used to prevent contamination
- Trace components - left over from vaccine manufacture
What are the determinants of primary vaccine antibody response?
- Vaccine type (i.e. live attenuated > inactivated)
- Antigen nature
- Vaccine schedule
What determines duration of protection post-immunisation?
- Vaccine type (live = longer lasting)
- Vaccination schedule
What are the contraindications for a vaccine?
- Confirmed anaphylaxis reaction to previous dose or component of vaccine
- Live vaccines
- Immunocompromising treatment or condition
- Pregnancy
What are the precautions for a vaccine?
- Acutely unwell
- Pregnancy
What must be considered for vaccination programmes?
- Administered before peak-age-incidence of the disease
- Targeted to high risk groups or widely disseminated to everyone
- Effective R0 needs to be <1
- Catch up campaigns to pick up anyone that missed vaccinations should be considered
What are the factors for successful disease eradication?
- No animal reservoir
- Antigenically stable pathogen with only one/few strains
- No latent reservoir of infection and no integration of pathogen genetic material into the host genome
- Vaccine must induce a lasting immune response
- High coverage required for very contagious pathogens
Describe the microbiology of mycobacterium.
- Non-motile rod-shaped bacteria
- Relatively slow-growing compared to other bacteria
- Long-chain fatty (mycolic) acid, complex waxes and glycolipids in cells
- Acid alcohol fast
Who level of disease is caused by mycobacterium avium complex?
- Immunocompetent
- May invade bronchial tree
- Pre-existing bronchiectasis or cavities
- Immunosuppressed
- Disseminated infection
What is associated with mycobacterium chimera?
Cardiothoracic procedures
What are caused by M. ulcerans?
- Skin lesions → e.g. Bairnsdale ulcer, Buruli ulcer
- Chronic progressive painless ulcer
How can TB be prevented?
- Detection and contact tracing
- PPE
- Negative pressure isolation
- Vaccination
- Address risk factors
What are the risk factors for TB re-activation?
- Immunosuppression
- Chronic alcohol excess
- Malnutrition
- Ageing
What are the presentation of TB?
-
Pulmonary
- Lung parenchyma
- Mediastinal LNs
- Lymphadenitis
- Cervical LNs most commonly
- Abscesses and sinuses
- Gastrointestinal
- If TB is ingested
- Peritoneal
- Genitourinary
- Slow progression of renal disease
- Bone and Joints
- Most commonly spinal - Pott’s disease
- Miliary TB
- Millet seeds on CXR
- Tuberculous Meningitis or Tuberculoma
What are the risk factors for TB?
- South Asian/Sub-saharan African Origin
- HIV/Immunocompromised
- Homeless
- Drug User
- Close Contact
- Young Adults
What are the signs and symptoms of TB?
- Fever
- Weight loss
- Night sweats
- Cough
- Haemoptysis
- Malaise
- Anorexia
What are the appropriate investigations for suspected TB?
- CXR
- Sputum
- Stain for AAFBs
- Culture
- NAAT
- Histology
- Bronchoscopy
- Biopsies
- EMU
- Tuberculin skin test
- IGRAs
What is the management of TB?
- Antibiotics
- Rifampicin - 4 months
- Isoniazid - 4 months
- Pyrazinamide - 2 months
- Ethambutol - 2 months
- Vitamin D
- Nutrition
- Surgery if unresponsive