Microbiology Flashcards
What does an application of safranin do in gram staining?
Stains gram negative bacteria PINK
gram positive remain PURPLE
Why does gram positive bacteria remain purple after decolorisation?
Thick layer of peptidoglycan in cell wall
Gram negative bacteria have a thin layer of peptidoglycan and a high lipid content
What are the four steps of gram staining?
Come In And Stain
Crystal violet (turns all cells purple)
Iodine
Alcohol (decolourisation)
Safranin (gram negative turn pink)
Which gram positive cocci produces an enzyme that converts fibrinogen to fibrin?
Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA: produce coagulase
Which test differentiates clusters vs chains in gram positive cocci?
Catalase test
Positive: Staphylococcus (clusters)
Negative: Streptococcus (chains)
Which groups does a haemolysis test differentiate streptococcus into?
Alpha: partial lysis (green)
Beta (Lancefield A, B,C + G): complete lysis (clear)
Gamma (Lancefield D): no lysis (non haem)
Which test can be used to differentiate alpha haemolytic streptococci?
Optochin test
Resistant: viridans strep
Sensitive: s. pneumoniae
Name two alpha haemolytic streptococci
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Viridans group streptococci
Which gram positive bacteria is beta haem group A?
Streptococcus pyogenes
Which gram positive bacteria are non-haem Group D?
Streptococcus bovis
Enterococcus
Infections associated with staphylococcus epidermidis
Surgical wound infections
Septicaemia
Endocarditis (prosthetic valve)
Infections associated with streptococcus pneumoniae
Pneumonia
Meningitis
Otitis media
Sinusitis
Treatment of MRSA infection
Vancomycin
Methicillin resistant s. aureus = MRSA
Test to initially differentiate gram negative bacilli
MacConkey Agar
Lactose fermenting: pink
Non lactose fermenting: white
Lactose fermenting gram negative bacilli
E. Coli
Klebsiella
Non lactose fermenting gram negative bacilli
Shigella
Salmonella
Pseudomonas
Oxidase positive non lactose fermenting gram negative bacilli
Pseudomonas
Produce cytochrome c oxidases
Oxidase negative non lactose fermenting gram negative bacilli
Shigella
Salmonella
Infections associated with E. Coli
UTIs (causes the majority)
Travellers diarrhoea
Cholecystitis
Cholangitis
Infections associated with pseudomonas and treatment
Skin infections
Pneumonia
Treatment: gentamicin, quinolones
Infections associated with shigella and treatment
Shigellosis (diarrhoea, fever)
Treatment: quinolones, azithromycin
Infections associated with neisseria and treatment
Gonorrhoea
Meningitis
Treatment: cephalosporins
Two examples of mycobacteria
TB
Leprosy
Stain used for mycobacteria
Ziehl-Nielsen stain
Acid fast bacteria: red
Non-acid fast: blue
Four different ways viruses can cause disease and examples of diseases for each
Direct destruction e.g. polio
Modification e.g. rotavirus
Over-reactivity e.g. hepatitis B
Cell proliferation e.g. HPV
3 tests used for identification of viruses
PCR
Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT)
Serology (acute: IgM, IgG appears later)
Worms
Common worldwide but rare in the UK
3 groups: roundworms (nematodes), flatworms (trematodes), tapeworms (ceratodes)
Mainly IgG and IgE mediated
Example: hookworm
Listeria monocytogenes
Gram positive bacilli
Pregnant women at high risk of this cause of MENINGITIS 🤰🏼
Haemophilus influenza
Gram negative coccobacilli
Aerobic
Mechanism of action of glycopeptides and example AB
Inhibit cell wall synthesis
Vancomycin
Mechanism of action of beta lactams and example groups
Inhibit cell wall synthesis
Penicillins, cephalosporins
Three examples of penicillins
Amoxicillin
Benzylpenicillin
Flucloxacillin
Example of cephalosporins
Cephalexin
Cefotaxime
Ceftriaxone
Alternative AB used in the case of penicillin allergy
Macrolides e.g. erythromycin
Mechanism of action of macrolides
Inhibit protein synthesis by targeting bacterial ribosome (50S subunit)
Mechanism of action of aminoglycosides and example
Inhibit protein synthesis by targeting bacterial ribosome (30S)
Gentamicin
Mechanism of action of tetracyclines and example
Inhibit protein synthesis by targeting bacterial ribosome (30S)
Doxycycline
When is trimethoprim contraindicated
Pregnancy (folate is important in preventing spina bifida)
Mechanism of action of trimethoprim
Inhibit folate synthesis (inhibits nucleic acid synthesis)
Mechanism of action of fluroquinolones and example
Inhibit DNA gyrase (inhibits nucleic acid synthesis)
Ciprofloxacin
Gold standard treatment for Staphylococcus infection
Flucloxacillin
Two first line treatments for lower UTIs
Nitrofurantoin
Trimethoprim
Two important bacterial resistance types
MRSA (methicillin)
VRE (vancomycin)
Hepatitis B testing
1) Total anti-HB total core antibody = IgM + IgG
- Exposed to virus
2) Hepatitis B surface antigen (sAg)
- Exposed to virus AND it’s still active
3) Anti-HB surface antibody (sAb)
- Immunity to virus
Which hepatitis viruses have a vaccine?
A and B
THERE IS NO VACCINE FOR HEPATITIS C
Hepatitis C treatment
Direct acting antiviral therapy (successfully cure 90% of patients)
Streptococcal treatment
E.g. Strep throat
Penicillin e.g. amoxicillin
Enteric infection
Microorganisms that cause intestinal illness
Causative organism of osteomyelitis
staphylococcus aureus
Endocarditis symptoms
Fever, anaemia, murmur, breathlessness, chest pain
Uncomplicated UTI criteria
Non-pregnant women
Pyelonephritis triad
Loin pain + fever + pyuria (WCC)
Complicated UTIs Mx
Empirical antibiotics first
Urinalysis
Blood culture
Skin and soft tissue infection causative organisms and Tx
Beta haemolytic strep (Strep pyogenes): amoxicillin
Staph Aureus: flucloxacillin
Three major classes of antibiotics
Inhibit cell wall synthesis
Inhibit nucleic acid synthesis (folate, DNA, RNA)
Inhibit protein synthesis (30S and 50S ribosomal subunits)
Mechanism of antimicrobial resistance in MRSA
Flucloxacillin and methicillin are no longer able to bind to the PBP (penicillin binding protein) of staphylococci
Mechanism of antimicrobial resistance in VRE
change in cell wall components reduce vancomycin binding
Which type of bacteria are intrinsically resistant to metronidazole and why
Aerobic bacteria
Unable to convert it to its active form
Which type of bacteria are intrinsically resistant to vancomycin and why
Gram negative bacteria
Vancomycin cannot penetrate its outer membrane
Streptococcal pharyngitis
Throat inflammation caused by streptococcus pyogenes (strep throat)
- Group A Beta-haemolytic
Streptolysin
Enzyme that completely lyses RBC (Beta haemolysis)
RBCs in alpha haemolysis
Damaged RBCs (NOT ruptured)
Rheumatic fever microbiology/pathophysiology
Group A Beta-haem streptococci
M protein (antibody) from the strep cell wall cross reacts with tissue causing inflammation and damage E.g. to heart valves
Rheumatic fever symptoms
Fever Arthritis (painful, tender joints) Chest pain SoB Fatigue Chorea
AB table
Cell wall synthesis disruption two mechanisms
Peptidoglycan cross-linking (Beta lactams) Peptidoglycan synthesis (Glycopeptides e.g. vancomycin)
Folic acid synthesis disruption example Ab
Trimethoprim
Pseudomembranous colitis is a complication of which microorganism?
Clostridium Difficile
local inflammation of large intestine = significant diarrhoea
Treatment given to patients with suspected meningococcal septicaemia in the COMMUNITY
Benzylpenicillin IM
Meningitis hospital Tx
Cefotaxime IV
TB risk factors
Ethnicity IVDU homeless Immunosuppression Alcoholic Close contact with infected
Prophylaxis against meningococcal meningitis for close contacts
Ciprofloxacin