Microbiology Flashcards
Thayer Martin VCN medium
Selective for Niesseria (e.g N.Gonorreha Gram-ive diplococci)
Medium contains vancomycin, Colisistin, Nystatin, Trimethoprim
which kills all others except Nisseria.
Group-A Strep
AKA Strep Pyogenes
M-protien (virulence factor)
resist phagocytosis (molecular mimicry)
has structural homology to Tropomyosin & Myosin reacts to epitopes on mysoin causing Rheumatic carditis
Main Causes of UTI
E-coli, Klebsiella, Proteus, Enterobacteria, Staph Saprophyticus
Congenital Syphillis
Tryponema Palladium (Spirochete)
Atypical Delivery
Abcess like foci of necrosis around umbilical vessels
Growth Restriction
Late symptoms(can be prevented by penicillin) are saddle nose & notched teeth
VDRL+, Rapid Reagin test
Organisms causing risk of ectopic Pregnancy
Nisseria Gonorrhea , Chlamydia trachomatis
cause PID and tubular scaring which increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy.
Clostridium Tetani
Causes tetanus
metalloprotease exotoxin tetanospasmin inhibits neurotransmitters Glycine & GABA
Muscle spasms, hyperreflexia, lock jaws
Scabies
Sarcoptes scabiei mite infestation Spread by direct person-to-person contact
Extremely pruritic, small, erythematous papules
Distribution: interdigital web spaces, flexor wrists, extensor elbows, axillae, feet, umbilicus & genitalia
Burrows (thin serpiginous lines) may not be visible but pathognomonic if present
H.Pylori
Gastritis, Ulcers, PUD
Also assosiated with MALT Lymphoma
Herpes
doble strand DNA virus (ds DNA)
HPV
ds DNA virus
Chlamydia
obligate intracellular bacteria; causes PID, cervicitis (yellow pus), or conjunctivitis (Neonatal blindness)
Niesseria Gonorrhea
gram-negative diplococcus;
presents with mucopurulent discharge; can be present with palmar pustule, arthritis/ joint pain, urethral discomfort
Hemophilus ducreyi
Gram Negative Rods
Causes CHANCROID (painful with a necrotic center)
CMV
Enveloped ds DNA virus
Causes congenital blinding
Can also cause pneumonitis & CMV retinitis
Immunocompromised patient at high risk (i.e transplant patients, HIV etc)
Histology : Enlarged cells with intranuclear and intracytoplasmic inclusions (OWLs EYE NUCLEUS)
there is often surrounding halo.
West Nile Virus
West Nile fever:
fever, headache, rash (maculopapular/morbilliform)
Neuroinvasive:
meningitis, encephalitis, acute asymmetric flaccid paralysis
Parkinsonian symptoms (eg, rigidity, bradykinesia, tremor)
West Nile virus is a single-strand flavivirus transmitted by mosquitoes, most commonly in the summer. Most infections are asymptomatic or may present with a flu-like illness (West Nile fever), often with a maculopapular or morbilliform rash. Neuroinvasive disease manifests as meningitis, encephalitis, or asymmetric flaccid paralysis; patients may have parkinsonian features (eg, tremor
Bordetella Pertussis
Gram –ive coccobacilli
Whooping cough
May be assosiated with vomitting and nausea
Tracheal toxin : destroy ciliated epithelial cells leads to loss of airway clearence
Pertussis/ AB toxin: activates adenylate cyclase leading to alteration in signalling inhibit phagocytosis and cause lymphocytosis.
Toxoplasma Gondii
Causes toxoplasmosis, seen in HIV patients
Multiple ring enhanced lesions in temporal lobe.
Clostridiodes difficile
Part of normal gut flora
Increase growth due to killing of other GI flora due to antibiotic use
Has Toxin A, Toxin B stimulate inflamatory reaction and disrupt the actin cytoskeletal structure resulting in pseudomembranous colitis characterized by:
Crampy abdominal pain
Watery Diarrhea
Leukocytosis
Norovirus
Single stranded RNA genome
MCC of viral gastroenteritis in developed countries
Acute onset resolves in 2-3 days
Vomitting
Watery Diarrhea (No blood or Mucus)
Fecal oral spread
Outbreaks in crowded settings
MacConkey Agar
Selective for gram negative rods
Gram –ive Bacilli (Rods) =
lactose fermenting (Colonies turn pink) & Non lactose fermenting
Lactose fermenting:
Slow- Citrobacter , Serratia
Fast- Inodole +ive = E.coli (ability to convert tryptophan to inodole)
Inodole –ive = Klebsiella , Enterobacter
Non-Lactose fermenting:
Oxidase +ive = Pseudomonas
Oxidase –ive =
H2S producing : Salmonella, Proteus
Non H2S producing : Shigella , Yersinia
ETEC
- Enterotoxigenic E. coli causes traveler’s diarrhea.
- Will present as brown/green diarrhea in person who’s gone to
Mexico or Middle East classically. - Heat-labile toxin ADP ribosylates adenylyl cyclase ↑ cAMP.
- Heat-stable toxin ADP ribosylates guanylyl cyclase ↑ cGMP.
EHEC
- Enterohemorrhagic E. coli causes bloody diarrhea 1-3 days after consumption of beef.
- Produces shiga-like toxin, which can cause hemolytic uremic syndrome
(HUS; triad of renal dysfunction, schistocytosis, thrombocytopenia).
Shigella
- Bloody diarrhea 1-3 days after consumption of beef.
- Also can cause HUS via shiga toxin.
- Requires very few organisms to cause infection.
- Main virulence is via its ability to invade, not the toxin itself.
- Both shiga toxin of Shigella and shiga-like toxin of EHEC inhibit protein synthesis by cleaving the eukaryotic 60S ribosomal subunit
Yersinia enterocolitica
- Causes bloody diarrhea + either appendicitis-like (i.e., RLQ) pain or arthritis.
- The RLQ pain is from mesenteric adenitis or terminal ileitis.
- Toxin has same MOA as ETEC heat-stabile toxin (i.e., cGMP).
Campylobacter jejuni
- Bloody diarrhea 1-3 days after consumption of poultry.
- Can cause Guillain-Barre syndrome (ascending paralysis + ¯ tendon reflexes + albuminocytologic dissociation in the CSF –> Tx with IVIG + plasmapheresis).
- Grows best at high temperatures (42 degrees).
Bacillus cereus
- Watery diarrhea and/or vomiting in patient who’s consumed reheated or fried rice. The process of heating/re-heating causes germination of spores.
- Can also cause eye infections.
Clostridium perfringens
- Watery/secretory diarrhea following consumption of poultry.
- Causes gas gangrene (CO2 gas) due to production of alpha-toxin/phospholipase; presents as black skin / crepitus.
- Can also cause emphysematous cholecystitis (air in gall bladder wall).
Clostridium difficile
- Diarrhea (pseudomembranous colitis) ~7-10 days after commencing oral antibiotics.
- Diagnose with stool AB toxin test.
- Treat with oral vancomycin.
Trichinella spiralis
- Ingested by eating pork/bear meat.
Causes triad of fever, periorbital edema, and myalgias. (Trichinosis)
Taenia solium
- Pork tapeworm.
Causes cysticercosis (muscle pain/cysts) + neurocysticercosis
(“Swiss cheese” appearance of brain or soap bubbles in ventricles).
Haemophilus
Influenzae
- Causes Epiglottitis
- Inflamed Epiglottitis;
- Thumbprint sign on Xray
- 2-3 Years old & unvaccinated children
- Capsule (Polyribitol Phosphate) inhibits Phagocytosis;
- IgA Proteases
- Gram (-) Rods grow on Chocolate Agar
- Tx: Ceftriaxone
Parainfluenza
(paramyxoviridae)
- Causes: Croup, Laryngotracheitis, Laryngotracheobronchitis
- Fever, sharp barking cough, inspiratory hoarse phonation, steeple sign on AP Xray seen on Croup.
- Seen in Infants
- Tx: Rivabarin
Respiratory Syncytial Virus RSV
(paramyxoviridae)
- Causes Bronchitis, Bronchiolitis
- Wheezing
- Infants or Child <5 Years old
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
- Causes Bronchitis, Bronchiolitis.
- Seen in Child >5 year old.
- Release of 02 radicals causes necrosis of epithelium.
- Slow Growth on Eaton Medium.
- Cold agglutinins.
Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Gram (+) diplococcus, alpha
hemolytic, catalase (-), lysed by bile, inhibited by optochin. - Causes Typical Lobar pneumonia.
- Rust colored sputum;
- Lobar pneumonia or less commonly, bronchopneumonia
- Seen in Adults and Alcoholics.
- Anti-phagocytic capsule.
- IgA protease.
- Tx : Macrolides + Quinolones
Staphylococcus Aureus
- Gram (+), Catalase (+) cocci in chains.
- Causes Typical Lobar pneumonia.
- Nosocomial/respiratory Salmon colored sputum.
- A protein binds to Fc of IgG to inhibit opsonization and phagocytosis.
- Tx : Beta-lactams, Carbapenems, Vancomycin.
Klebsiella pneumonia
- Encapsulated Gram (-) rod, Oxidase (-),
Lactose fermenting Facultative anaerobe. - Causes aspiration assossiated typical pneumonia.
- Chronic, lung disease, alcoholism or diabetes.
- Currant jelly sputum.
- Capsule protects against phagocytosis.
- Tx : Ceftriaxone +/- Aminoglycoside
Carbapenem for ESBL-strains
Anaerobes, mixed infection
(Bacteroides, Fusobacterium, Peptococcus)
- Aspiration of vomit, leads to enzyme damage, leads to anaerobic foci.
- Foul Smelling Sputum.
- Tx : Empiric Antibiotic Therapy
(Amoxicillin-Clavulanate, Gentamicin)
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Gram (-) rod, Oxidase (+), Blue green pigments.
- Seen in Neutropenic patients, burn patients, Chronic Granulomatous Disease, Cystic Fibrosis.
- Biofilm, Exotoxin A.
- Tx : Azithromycin, Third-Generation Cephalosporin.
Yersinia pestis
- Gram (-) rod, Coagulase (+) with a safety pin appearance
(bipolar staining). - Cause of bubonic and pulmonic plagues (this
one, characterized by pulmonary septic emboli), - Fever + Buboes.
- Flea bite (vector); Wild rodents are carriers (prairie dogs).
- Tx : Aminoglycosides.
Influenza A and B
(Orthomyxoviridae)
- Fever, Headache, Malaise, Myalgia and Cough.
- ”Flu” season.
- Antigenic drift (Influenza A and B).
- Antigenic shift (Influenza A).
Tx :
- Oseltamivir, Zanamivir
(Neuraminidase inhibitors)
- Killed vaccine
Francisella tularensis
- Gram (-) Aerobe, Cysteine (+)
- Inhalation of aerosolized blood from butchering or skinning rabbits.
Chlamydophila psittaci
- Gram (-) Obligate intracellular.
- Atypical pneumonia.
- Exposure to birds and/or parrots.
- Association with hepatitis.
Tx : Tetracycline, Erythromycin.
Pneumocystis jirovecii
- MCC cause of pneumonia in AIDS.
- Interstitial plasma cell pneumonia.
- Methamine silver cysts.
Tx : TMX-SMX.
Streptococcus pyogenes
- Gram (+), Catalase (-) coccus;
- Beta-hemolytic, Bacitracin sensitive.
- Inflamed tonsils/pharynx, abscesses; cervical lymphadenopathy, fever, stomach upset, sandpaper rash.
- Exotoxins A-C (superantigens).
- Tx : Penicillin.
Neutropenic patients are at high risk of what infections? Define Neutropenic Fever?
- Neutropenic patients are at high risk of Gram Negative infections
(i.e Pseudomonas). - Neutropenic Fever is defined as Fever > 101 F + Absolute neutrophil
count < 500 neutrophils/ mm3. - Gram Negative infections (i.e. Pseudomonas) are most important
cause associated with rapid clinical deterioration due to production
of endotoxins. - Gram Positive infections can also occur i.e. in case of indwelling
catheters but they are less virulent and have slow onset.
Give the classic triad of clinical features in congenital toxoplasmosis?
- Toxoplasma gondii infection in cats (definitive host)
- Spread to humans & animals via oocysts shed in cat feces
- Transplacental transmission from infected mother to fetus
Classic Triad:
- Chorioretinitis
- Hydrocephalus
- Intracranial calcifications
- Nonspecific: jaundice, hepatosplenomegaly
Name the 2 main virulence factors of Bacillus anthracis?
- Polypeptide capsule composed of poly-γ-D-glutamic acid (antiphagocytic)
- Exotoxin complex composed of protective antigen, edema factor, and lethal factor
organism to the yeast morphology (Blastomyces dermatitidis/Histoplasma capsulatum):
- Large, broad-based budding yeasts with thick refractile walls: Blastomyces dermatitidis
- Small, narrow-based budding yeasts within macrophages: Histoplasma capsulatum
Patient develops periorbital edema, myositis, and eosinophilia following consumption of undercooked pork. What is the causative parasite?
Trichinella (invades the skeletal muscle).
what are catalase positive organisms?
Catalase converts hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen.
- Aspergillus
- Burkholderia cepacia
- Nocardia
- Serratia marcescens
- Staphylococcus aureus
Immunosuppressed patient with slowly worsening headache, fever, and confusion,
Cerebrospinal fluid latex agglutination test is positive for capsular polysaccharide antigen.
What is the diagnosis? How is this infection acquired?
Diagnosis: Cryptococcal meningitis
How is this infection acquired? Inhalation of yeast (resides in soil contaminated by bird droppings).
Tabes dorsalis
Years → decades after initial infection
Increased incidence/more rapid progression in those with HIV
Treponema pallidum directly damages dorsal sensory roots
Secondary degeneration of the dorsal columns
Clinical findings:
- Sensory ataxia
- Lancinating pains
- Neurogenic urinary incontinence
- Associated with Argyll Robertson pupils
Argyll Robertson pupil (small, irregularly shaped pupils that accommodate but do not react to light).
Rx: 10-14 days of intravenous penicillin G
Hepatitis main modes of transmission?
- Hepatitis A: fecal-oral (eg, undercooked shellfish)
- Hepatitis B: sexual, percutaneous (eg, intravenous drug use), vertical
(ie, mother-to-child) - Hepatitis C: percutaneous (eg, intravenous drug use), sexual
Most common causes of necrotizing fasciitis
Most common causes of necrotizing fasciitis:
1. Streptococcus pyogenes (group A Streptococcus)
2. Staphylococcus aureus
3. Clostridium perfringens
4. Polymicrobial infection
Toxoplasmosis
- Chorioretinitis
- Hydrocephalus
- Diffuse intracranial calcifications
Syphilis
- Rhinorrhea
- Skeletal anomalies
- Desquamating rash (palms/soles)