MICROBIOLOGY Flashcards
what is a commensal
organism which colonises the host but causes no disease in normal circumstances
what is an opportunistic pathogen
a microbe which can only cause disease if the host defences are compromised
What colour do gram positive bacteria stain
Purple
What colour do gram negative bacteria stain
Pink
what are the bacterial names for spheres or rods
coccus or bacillus
what is the outer membrane of gram positive bacteria like
there is a inner membrane, surrounded by a large layer or peptidoglycan which is linked to the phospholipid membrane
what is the outer membrane of gram negative bacteria like
There is two phospholipid membranes with a periplasmic space in-between containing a thin peptidoglycan layer
what type of bacteria is lipopolysaccharide found on
found on gram negative bacteria
what are the two types of bacterial toxins
Endotoxins - Component of the outer membrane of bacteria - LPS on gram negative bacteria
Exotoxins - secreted proteins of gram positive and gram negative bacteria
how does bacteria gain genetic variation
- Mutation - base substitution, deletion, transfer
- Gene transfer - Transformation (plasmid), Transduction (phage), Conjugation
what is the initial classification of bacteria
those that bay be cultured on artificial media, and obligate intracellular bacteria
What are bacteria that may be cultured on artificial media split into
split into those with a cell and those without a cell wall
what are the bacteria with a cell wall split into
those which grow as single cells and those that grow as filaments
what are the bacteria that grow as single cells split into
Rods - ZN stain, Gram positive and gram negative
Cocci - Gram positive and gram negative
Spirochaetes
what is the gram stain
it is where you apply a primary stain (such as crystal violet) to heat fixed bacteria. You then add iodide which binds to the crystal violet and fixes it to the cell wall. You then decolourise with ethanol or acetone and counterstain with safranin (pink)
what is the coagulase test used for
distinguished S. aureus from other staphylococci (clustered gram positive cocci)
- it is coagulase positive
- if negative S. epidermidis (opportunistic factors)
What bacteria would be gram positive cocci growing in
A. Chains
B. Clusters
A. Streptococcus
B. Staphylococcus
what test do you do to distinguish between staphylococcus bacteria
the coagulase (or DNAse) test
- if positive then its S. aureus
what test is done to distinguish streptococcus bacteria species
the haemolysis test
what is seen in the haemolysis test for an alpha haemolytic strep
there is partial haemolysis of the blood agar, bacteria uses hydrogen peroxide to oxidise the haemoglobin and the agar appears green
if the haemolysis test shows alpha haemolytic strep what other tests are then done
the optochin test
- if the bacteria is sensitive then it is S. Pneymoniae
- if the bacteria is resistant it is Viridans strep
what bacteria are beta haemolytic strep
S. Pyogenes
what is seen in the haemolysis test for beta haemolysis strep
there is complete lysis of the red blood cells causing the blood agar to appear clear
what does gamma haemolysis for the haemolysis test imply
that no haemolysis was seen
what is the oxidase test
it tests if a microorganism contains a cytochrome oxidase which implies it is able to use oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor
- aerobic
why do gram positive bacteria stain purple
Because they retain the colour of the crystal violet stain because they have a thick peptidoglycan layer in their cell wall.
what are three ways to classify streptococci
- Haemolysis
- Lancefield typing
- Biochemical properties
what is Lancefield grouping
where you group catalyze negative, coagulase negative bacteria, based on the bacterial carbohydrate cell surface antigens
what are the important gram positive bacteria to remember
- S. aureus
- S. epidermis
- S. pyogenes
- S. Pneumoniae
- Viridans Streptococci
- C. Diphtheriae
what is the main treatment for staphylococcus
flucloxacillin for 3 months
what is coagulase
it is an enzyme produced by bacteria that clots blood plasma
where is the normal habitat for staphylococci
the nose and skin
how is staphylococcus aureus spread
aerosol and touch
what are the virulence factors of staphylococcus aureus
Pore-forming toxins
Proteases
Toxic shock syndrome toxin
Protein A
what two types of infection can S. aureus produce
- Pyogenic (pus)
- Toxin mediated
what are two examples of coagulase negative staphylococci
- S. epidermidis
- S. saprophyticus
what is an example of a gamma haemolysis bacteria
S. mutans
what is antigenic sero-grouping used for
its used for beta haemolytic strep only and it looks at carbohydrate cell surface antigens. There are groups A-H and K-V.
- Group A - S. pyogenes
- Group B - S. agalactiae
how does the Lancefield microbead agglutination test work
- antibodies made that recognise each group
- these are tagged to tiny plastic beads
- added to suspension of bacteria
- antibodies bind to bacteria and beads clump
- this is visible to the naked eye
what are the S.pyogenes virulence factors
. Exported factors = enzymes: Streptokinase, hyaluronidase C5a peptidase
. Toxins = Streptolysins O&S, Erythrogenic toxin
. Surface factors = capsule, M protein
what are the tissue systems that S. pyogenes can infect
Respiratory, Skin and soft tissue
- can also cause scarlet fever and complications
what bacteria causes scarlet fever
S. pyogenes
what percentage of the population have S. pneumoniae as a commensal
about 30%
what factors can predispose you to catch S. pneumoniae
- impaired mucus trapping
- hypogammaglobulinemia - low serum immunoglobulin
- asplenia - absence of a spleen
- HIV
what are S. pneumoniae virulence factors
- Capsule
- Inflammatory wall constituents
- Cytotoxin
what are examples of aerobic gram positive bacilli
- Listeria monocytogenes
- Bacillus anthracis
- Corynebacterium diphtheriae
what are examples of anaerobic gram positive bacilli
Clostridia
1. C. tetani
2. C. botulinum
3. C. difficile
what are the four major groups of gram negative bacteria
- Proteobacteria - rod shaped
- Bacteroides - rod shaped
- Chlamydia - round pleiomorphic
- Spirochaetes - spiral/helical
what are the sterile sited of the body (should normally have no bacteria/pathogens)
- Blood
- CSF
- Pleural fluid
- Peritoneum
- Joints
- Urinary tract
- Lower respiratory tract
what are pathogenicity determinants
any product or strategy which contributes to the pathogenicity or virulence
what are pathogenicity determinants of gram negative bacteria
- colonisation factors: adhesins, invasins, nutrient acquisition, defence against host
- Toxins
what is found in blood agar
sheep or horse blood
what is chocolate agar
blood agar which has been cooked for 5 minutes at 80oC to release some of the nutrients (allows more organisms to grow)
what is the function of CLED agar
it is cysteine lactose electrolyte deficient - used for urinary bacteria analysis
what is MacCONKEY agar
it contains natural red dye and lactose. Differentiates between lactose fermenting gram negative bacteria (E.Coli turns it pink)
and non lactose fermenters (salmonella, shigella)
what is gonococcus agar used for
for Neisseria culture
what is XLD agar used for
to differentiate between salmonella and shigella (salmonella red with black centres and shigella red only)
what is sabourard agar used for
for fungal culture
what bacteria would you be looking at down the microscope if its was purple and
A. in clusters
B. in chains
A. staphylococcus
B. Streptococcus
other than the coagulase test what’s another was to differentiate S. aureus from other staphs
culture of blood agar, S. aureus colonies are gold while other staphs are colourless (white)
What are the mycobacteria of medical importance
- M. tuberculosis - tuberculosis
- M. leprae - leprosy
- M. avium - disseminated infection in AIDS
- M. kansasii - chronic lung infection
- M. marinum - fish tank granuloma
- M. ulcerans - buruli ulcer
- rapid growing myobacteria for skin and soft tissue infection
what are the features of mycobacteria
they are aerobic, non-spore forming, non motile bacilli
what do mycobacteria show on gram stain
weakly positive (or colourless)
can mycobacteria survive in harsh environments
yes, they can survive within macrophages even within a low pH environment
what is the reproduction time for mycobacteria
slow 0 M tuberculosis generation time is 15-20 hours. This means they are also slow growing and slow at responding to treatment
what stain can be used for mycobacteria which are resistant to gram stain
acid fast test - stain used to identify organisms with wax like thick cell walls
how are mycobacteria diagnosed
they are diagnosed using nucleic acid amplification such as PCR
are gram positive bacteria mostly cocci or bacilli
cocci
are gram negative bacteria mostly cocci or bacilli
bacilli
what patients might get opportunistic infections
those on immunosuppressant drugs, those with immunocompromise and those with a breakdown of host defences
what are the common spiral bacteria
vibrios, spirilla and spirochaetes
what is blood agar used for
commonly for streptococcus
what is chocolate agar used for
fastidious neisseria
what environment do gram positive bacteria prefer
dry, dusty environments. skin colonisers and spread by breathing in shed skin cells
what environment do gram negative bacteria prefer
wet, damp environments where the majority prefer to colonise mucous membranes
what is the catalase test used for
to differentiate between staphylococcus and streptococcus
what bacteria would it be if it was catalase positive
staphylococcus
what is the method for the catalase test
apply hydrogen peroxide to a small simple colony and if it bubbles then it is positive
what lancefield group is S. pyogenes
group A
how quickly do symptoms appear with CAP
they occur after LESS than 48 hours in the hospital
what is the common cause of CAP
S. Pneumoniae
what is treatment for CAP
amoxicillin first line, co-amoxiclav in unwell
how quickly do symptoms appear with HAP
symptoms occur after MORE than 48 hours in the hospital
who are the most likely to get HAP
People on ventilators, stroke, long stays, infection contact
what are the most likely causes of HAP
E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter spp, pseudomonas aeruginosa, MRSA, streptococci
what is the treatment for HAP
guided by microbiology, often IV co-amoxiclav and gentamicin
what are the gram positive rods you need to know
- Anaerobic: Clostridium Spp (difficile and perfingens)
- aerobic: Bacillus spp and Corynebacterium
what are the medications for C. difficile
The 4 C’s
- Clindamycin
- Cephalosporins
- Co - amoxiclav
- Ciprofloxacin
what are symptoms of C. difficile
diarrhoea, fever, abdominal pain, Hx of Ab
what is the pathological basis of meningitis
there is inflammation of the pia and arachnoid mater - microorganisms infect the CSF
what are symptoms of meningitis
stiffness of the neck, photophobia and severe headache.
infective: fever and malaise
Petechial rash associated with meningococcal meningitis
what is the treatment for meningitis
Bacterial: start on antibiotics before tests come back
- cephalosporins: IV cefotaxime/IV ceftriaxone
- if over 50 or immunocompromised add IV amoxicillin to cover listeria
- one oral dose of ciprofloxacin
Meningococcal septicemia: immediate IM benzylpenicillin in community and IV cefotaxime in hospital
Viral: supportive treatment
What are the oxidative positive gram negative rods
Indole negative: if its motile its pseudomonas aeruginosa
Indole positive: Haemophiles influenzae
what can pseudomonas aeruginosa cause
CF lung infection
Diabetic foot
burn infections
UTI
what can haemophilus influenzae cause
septic arthritis
CODP exacerbations
pneumonia
what are the oxidase negative gram negative rods
Bordetella pertussis (whooping cough)
Enterobacteria - non lactose fermenting and lactose fermenting
what are the non lactose fermenting enterobacteria
- proteus mirabilis - UTI
- Shigella spp - gastroenteritis
- salmonella spp
- S. typhi - typhoid fever
what are some lactose fermenting enterobacteria
- indole positive E. coli - UTI, gastroenteritis, abdominal infection
- Indole negative Klebsiella pneumoniae - UTI, abdominal infections, CF lungs
how can a UTI occur
certain bacteria and yeasts can enter the renal tract via the renal artery. Infection can also gain access via the urethra, with incompetence of the cysto-ureteric valves allows organisms to enter the upper urinary tract. organisms can then ascend the urethras to the kidneys
what are the symptoms of lower UTI
dysuria, urgency, frequency, cloudy or foul urine, haematuria, suprapubic tenderness
what are the symptoms of upper UTI
fever, confusion, loin tenderness
what are the common microorganisms that cause UTI
Klebsiella, E. coli, Enterococcus, proteus, S. saprophyticus
what is the most common cause of UTIs
85 - 90% of cases are E. coli
what is the treatment for UTIs
Oral nitrofurantoin or trimethoprim
in pregnancy give cefalexin
what are characteristics of viruses
Non - cellular structure
Consist of an outer protein coat and a strand of nucleic acid (DNA or RNA)
come in a variety of shapes
do not carry out metabolic reactions on their own
what is the process of viral replication
- viral attachment: viral and cell receptors
- cell entry; only central viral core carrying the nucleic acid and some associated proteins enter the host cell
- Interaction with host cells: use cell materials (enzymes, amino acids, nucleotides) for their replication
- Replication: may localize in nucleus, cytoplasm or both
Assembly: occurs in nucleus, in cytoplasm or at cell membrane - Release: bursting open of cell, or by leaking from the cell over a period of time
how do viruses cause disease
- damage by direct destruction of host cells
- damage by modification of host cell structure or function
- damage involving over reactivity of the host cell as a response to infection
- damage through cell proliferation and cell immortalization
- evasion of both extracellular and intracellular host defences
what is the infectivity of a pathogen
the ability to become established in a host, can involve adherence and immune escape
what is a pathogens virulence
the ability to cause disease once established
what is required for a virus to infect someone
1, a rapid cell entry
2. correct receptors
3. evasion of immune cells
the ability to replicate and pass on
what is antigenic drift
spontaneous mutations, occur gradually giving minor changes in surface proteins such as haemaglutinin and neuraminidase in influenza. Epidemics
what is antigenic shift
sudden emergence of new subtype different to that of preceding virus. Pandemics
what are different ways bacteria can invade a host
respiratory tract
gastrointestinal tract
genitourinary tract
skin break
what immune responses are mounted against protozoan infection
depends on where the infection is
in blood there will be humoral immunity
in the tissues it will be cell mediated immunity
how is malaria spread
by the female anopheles mosquito bite
how do protozoa evade the immune system
- surface antigen variation - different genes which can be switched on or off and mean that surface antigens can change
- intracellular phase
- outer coat sloughing - removed and replaced with a new one
what are features of helminth infection
- they dont multiply in humans
- they are not intracellular
- few parasites carried
- poor immune response - immune evasion
- immune response not sufficient to kill
how to worms evade the immune response
decreased antigen expression by adults and they have a host derived glycolipid/glycoprotein coat
what is passive immunisation
where a preformed antibody is transferred
- transplacental
- colostrum
- injecting preformed antibody
what are the 5 major groups of protozoa
flagellates, amoebae, sporozoans, ciliates, microsporidia
what are features of flagellates
they have flagellum as the main way to move about, they usually reproduce by binary fission and they are found in intestine (can be elsewhere)
what are the features of amoeba
they move by means of flowing cytoplasm and production of pseudopodia
what are features of sporozoans
they have no locomotory extensions and are the most intracellular parasite. they reproduce by multiple fission
what is the most common sporozoan protozoa
malaria
what are features of ciliate protozoa
they have cilia that rhythmically beat at some stage so they can move. they have two types of nuclei, macro and micronucleus
what are features of microsporidia
they produce resistant spores, they have a unique polar filament which is coiled inside a spore
what are the 5 species of malaria
P. falciparum
P. orale
P. vivax
p. malariae
p. knowlesi
what is the most common type of malaria infection and the most deadly
P. falciparum
what are the clinical features of malaria
Very varied
Fever !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Other common;
Chills and sweats
Headache
Myalgia
Fatigue
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhoea
These acute symptoms common to all 4 species
what is the lifecycle of malaria
- mosquito has blood meal and takes in gametocytes of malaria (in gut of the mosquito)
- sporozoites are released an migrates to salivary glands to mosquito
- in its saliva it injects sporozoites into human host
- migrates to liver cell and proliferates
- bursts and ruptures into blood stream
- in the blood stage the new trophocytes are made - infection of RBC, proliferating, bursting out
- some become gametocytes to be taken up by another mosquito
what are symptoms of tuberculosis
night sweats, cough, hemoptysis, weight loss and malaise
what are treatments for tuberculosis
isoniazid, ethambutamol, rifampicin and pyrazinamide
what is the side effect of isoniazid
numb or tingly extremities
what is a side effect of ethambutamol
ocular side effects
what is a side effect of rifampicin
orange or red urine
what is a side effect of pyrazinamide
arthralgia
what types of bacteria CANT you use gram stain on
Mycobacteria, actinomycetes and parasite cryptosporidium as they have waxy lipid cell walls
what stain is used on bacteria that you cant gram stain
the Ziehl-Neelson stain
- heating the sample with strong dye (carbol fuchsin)
what are the two forms of fungi
yeast - single cells that divide by budding
moulds - multicellular hyphae or spores
what is the fungal cell wall made of
chitin and glucan
what is the treatment for fungal infection
antifungals - they tend to target the cell wall or the plasma membrane but they dont work incredibly well
- generally quite difficult to treat
what are features of fungus Candida albicans
it is the most pathogenic Candida spp
- vaginal and oral infections and cause sepsis (candidiasis)
- can also cause line or catheter infections
- can kill rapidly
What are the features of fungus Aspergillus fumigatus
it is the most pathogenic Asp. spp.
- predominantly causes lung infections and allergic disease
- poor prognosis but it kills slowly
what are the three subclasses of antibiotics
- Cell wall synthesis
- Nucleic acid synthesis
- Protein synthesis
what are the different antibiotics which affect cell wall synthesis
- Beta lactams - penicillins, cephalosporins, carbapenems, monobactams
- Vancomycin
- Bacitracin
- cell membrane - polymyxins
what are the different antibiotics which affect nucleic acid synthesis
- folate synthesis - sulfonamides, trimethoprim
- DNA gyrase - quinolones
- RNA polymerase - rifampin
What are different antibiotics which affect protein synthesis
- 30S subunit affecting - tetracyclines, aminoglycosides
- 50S subunit affecting - macrolides, clindamycin, linezolid, chloramphenicol, streptogramins
what is the cell wall affecting antibiotic mechanism of action
beta lactams bind covalently and irreversibly to the penicillin binding proteins. The cell lysis is disrupted and lysis occurs. this results in bacterial death
what is the most common cell wall affecting antibiotics
beta lactams
are gram negative or positive bacteria more susceptible to beta lactams
gram positive bacteria as they have thick walls making them more vulnerable
how do nucleic acid synthesis affecting antibiotics work
they prevent production of folic acid synthesis - cant make thymidine or purines
they affect the enzymes that are required for DNA replication
when are macrolides used (antibiotics affecting protein synthesis)
they will be used in respiratory infection, and when people are allergic to penicillin