Microbiology 17: Neonatal and childhood infections

Question 1

List 4 infectious diseases screened for during pregnancy ?

Answer 1

Hep B
HIV
Rubella
Syphilis

Question 2

What is the most common cause of congenital deafness in the UK ?

Answer 2

CMV

Question 3

Which disease is transmitted by cat poo ?

Answer 3

Toxoplasmosis

Question 4

What are some of the signs of congenital toxoplasmosis infection ?

Answer 4

60% asymptomatic
Choroidoretinitis
Microcephaly
Seizures
Hepatosplenomegally
Intracranial calcification
Low IQ + deafness (later)

Question 5

What is the classical triad of signs of congenital rubella infection ?

Answer 5

Cataracts
Congenital heart disease
Deafness

Question 6

What signs do you get with congenital HSV infection ?

Answer 6

Blistering rash
Meningoencephalitis
Disseminated infection (liver dysfunction for example)

Question 7

What can Chlamydia trachomatis cause in the neonate ? (2)

Answer 7

Neonatal conjunctivitis
Pneumonia (rare)

Question 8

Which 3 organisms most commonly cause early onset (<48h) sepsis in the neonate ?

Answer 8

GBS (group b streptococcus)
E.coli
Listeria monocytogenes

Question 9

Which organism most commonly causes late onset (> 48-72h) sepsis in the neonate ?

Answer 9

Coagulase negative staphylococci (e.g s.epidermidis, s.saprophyticus)

Question 10

Which antibiotics are often used to treat early onset sepsis in the neonate?

Answer 10

Benzylpenicillin (treats GBS) + gentamicin (treats e.coli)

Question 11

Which bacteria classically causes superinfection with chicken pox ?

Answer 11

Invasive Group A streptococcus

Question 12

Bullous myringitis (vesicles on the tympanic membrane) and otitis media are suggestive of which organism ?

Answer 12

Mycoplasma Pneumoniae

(Extra pulmonary manifestation)

Question 13

Which bacteria causes whooping cough ?

Answer 13

Bordatella Pertussis

Question 14

what infections are not screened for during pregnancy

Answer 14

CMV
toxoplasmosis
hep C
GBS

Question 15

why are babies susceptible to infections in the neonatal period? (2)

Answer 15

• less maternal IgG (their own host defences are immature)
• NICU care (exposure to micro-organisms, colonisation and infection)

Question 16

list common early onset infections in neonates (within 48hrs of birth)

Answer 16

GBS
E coli
listeria monocytogenes

Question 17

treatment for late-onset sepsis

Answer 17

1st line - cefotaxime + vancomycin
2nd line - meropenem

Question 18

What type of organism is group B strept?

What do you see around it on agar plate?

Answer 18

Gram-positive coccus

Zone of inhibition around it (since beta haemolytic)

Question 19

Escherichia coli - what type of organism is it?

How does it look under microscope?

Presence of what antigen on E coli makes it more pathogenic?

Answer 19

Gram-negative rods

pink and rod-like

K1 antigen (bigger problem if present)

Question 20

What type of organism is listeria monocytogene?

Answer 20

Gram-positive rods

Question 21

What type of organism is Neisseria meningitidis (type of meningicoccus)?

Answer 21

Gram negative cocci

Question 22

Main organism to cause meningitis?

Answer 22

Men B

Question 23

What type of organism is strept pneumoniae?

Answer 23

Gram positive diplococcus

Question 24

Prevenar vaccine is for which group of organisms?

Answer 24

Pneumococcal

Question 25

What type of organism is Haemophilus Influenzae?

Answer 25

Gram negative cocci-bacilli (rods)

Question 26

Which type of resp tract infection in children does not respond to beta-lactams?

Answer 26

Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Question 27

most important bacterial cause of resp tract infection in children

Answer 27

Streptococcus pneumoniae