Microbiology Flashcards
What are the four classes of dermophytes?
- Trichophytin
- Microsporum
- Epidermophytin
- Malassezia furfur
What are the common yeast organisms? Name 3.
- Candida albicans
- Cryptococcus neoformans
- Pneumocystis jirovecii
What is a common mould organism?
Aspergillus fumigatus
What are some common dimorphic fungal organisms? Name 5.
- Histoplasma capsulatum
- Blastomyces dermatitidis
- Coccidioides immitis
- Paracoccidioides brasiliensis
- Sporothrix schenkii
What are the treatments for Candida infections?
Vulvovaginitis: topical azoles, nystatin
Oral/Esophageal thrush: oral fluconazole, caspofungin
Systemic infections: oral/IV fluconazole, caspofungin, or amphotericin B
What are the three possible manifestations of Aspergillus infection?
- Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA)
>> Common in asthma and cystic fibrosis
>> Can cause bronchiectasis and eosinophilia - Aspergillomas: esp. after TB infection
- Invasive aspergillosis (systemic)
What are the microscopic characteristics of Aspergillus fumigatus?
Narrow septate hyphae branching at acute angles
What are the microscopic characteristics of Mucor and/or Rhizopus speciies?
Broad, irregularly-shaped non-septate hyphae branching at right angles
What is the treatment for Aspergillus infection?
- Voriconazole
- Lipid amphotericin B
What are the common clinical manifestations of Rhizopus/Mucor infections?
Invasion via the cribiform plate leads to rhinocerebral infections
>> Frontal lobe abscesses
>> Black necrotic eschar on the face
>> Cranial nerve involvement
What is the treatment for Mucor/Rhizopus infections?
- Surgical debridement
- Amphotericin B
What are the prophylactic drugs for PCP?
When should we start giving them in an AIDS patient?
- TMP-SMX (Bactrim)
- Pentamidine
- Dapsone
- Atovaquone
>> Start prophylaxis when CD4+ count <200cells/mm3 in HIV patients
How do we prevent cryptococcal meningitis in AIDS/HIV patients?
Fluconazole
What are the clinical manifestations of Sporothrix schenkii infection?
- Local pustule from skin trauma, usually by a (rose) thorn
- Painless ulcerating ascending lymphangitis
How can we treat Sporothrix schenkii infection?
- Oral potassium iodide
- Itraconazole
What are some common infections caused by dermatophytes?
- Tinea pedis (athlete’s foot)
- Tinea cruris (groin – jock’s itch)
- Tinea corpus (body – ringworm)
- Tinea capitus (head – ringworm)
- Tinea unguium (nails – onychomycosis)
What are the treatment for typical superficial dermatophyte infection?
- Topical terbinafine
- Topical azoles
- If extensive or if involving the scalp or hair
>> Oral terbinafine
>> Oral azoles
What is the treatment for onychomycosis (tinea unguium)?
- Oral terbinafine
- Oral atroconazole
- Oral fluconazole
>> 6 weeks - 6 months: hands
>> 12 weeks - 12 months: feet/toes
Where are the endemic locations of Histioplasma capsulatum?
- Mississippi River Valley
- Ohio River Valley
What are the endemic locations of Blastomyces dermatiditis?
- States East of the Mississippi River
- South to Central America
- North to Canada
What are the endemic locations of Coccidioides immitis?
- California
- Southwestern United States (Texas)
- San Joaquin Valley
What are the endemic locations of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis?
Latin America
What is the route of transmission of Histioplasma capsulatum?
Bird and bat droppings
>> Contact/inhalation
What is the microscopic feature of Histioplasma capsulatum?
- Smaller than RBCs
- Hides in macrophages
What is the microscopic feature of Blastomyces dermatitidis?
- Broad-based budding
- Same size as RBCs
Which systems are mainly affected in the case of blastomycosis infection?
- Lung
- Skin
- Bone
What is the microscopic feature of Coccidioides immitis?
- Spherule much large than RBCs
- Filling with endospores
What is the natural life course of Coccidioides immitis?
Barrel-shaped arthroconidia >> airborne >> inhalation >> enters lung >> switches to spherules (NOT YEAST!) >> explodes with endospores
Which systems are mainly affected in the case of coccidioides infection?
- Lungs
- CNS
- Skin
- Bones and Joints
What is the route of transmission of Coccidioides immitis?
Inhalation
- Case rate increased after earthquakes as spores in the dust are thrown up in the air and easily inhaled
- “San Joaquin Valley” Fever
What is the microscopic feature of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis?
- Much bigger than RBCs
- Multiple “captain-wheel” budding formation
What are the general treatment plans for systemic mycoses?
Localized infections
- Fluconazole
- Itraconazole
Systemic infections
- Amphotericin B
What are the possible causes of systemic mycoses?
- Histioplasma capsulatum
- Blastomyces dermatiditis
- Coccidioides immitis
- Paracoccidioides brasiliensis
Which organism causes tinea versicolor?
Malassezia furfur (a dermatophyte)
What are the presenting clinical features of tinea versicolor?
Hypopigmented and/or hyperpigmented patches on the trunk and proximal limbs
- Light macules coalescing to form large scaling plaques
- Not usually pruritic
What is the microscopic feature of Malassezia furfur?
“Spaghetti and meatball” appearance on KOH prep
What is the treatment for tinea versicolor?
- Topical miconazole
- Topical selenium sulfide
- Oral azoles if severe
What is the treatment for Malassezia furfur infection?
- Topical miconazole
- Topical selenium sulfide
- Oral azoles if severe
What infections are associated with birds?
- Histoplasma capsulatum
- Cryptococcus neoformans
- Chlamydophila psittaci
- Viruses
>> H5N1 Influenza
>> West Nile Virus
Which anti-HIV medication is known for causing bone marrow suppression?
Zidovudine
What cell wall features are unique to Gram-positive organisms?
- Thick peptidoglycan wall
- Lipoteichoic acid
What cell wall features are unique to Gram-negative organisms?
- Thin peptidoglycan wall
- 2 membranes
- Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) endotoxin in the outer membrane
- Periplasmic space between the two membranes, containing beta-lactamase
What test is useful in determining capsular organisms?
Quellung reaction
- Anticapsular serum is added to the bacteria
- Capsule will appear swollen under microscopy
Name some encapsulated bacteria.
Even Some Pretty Nasty Killers Have Shiny Bodies.
- Escherichia coli (certain strains)
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Neisseria meningitidis
- Klebsiella pneumoniae
- Haemophilus influenzae type B
- Salmonella typhi
- Group B streptococcus
+ Cryptococcus neoformans: fungus that causes meningitis in AIDS patients and is also an encapsulated organism.
- *The SHiN organisms are very important to remember, and are common causes of infections and death in asplenic patients:**
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Haemophilus influenzae type B
- Neisseria meningitidis
What are the differences in the ribosomes of prokaryotes and eukaryotes?
Prokaryotes
- 50S and 30S subunits
- 70S ribosomes
Eukaryotes
- 60S and 40S subunits
- 80S ribosomes
What are the differences between generalized and specialized transduction?
Generalized transduction
- “Packaging” event
- Lytic phages
- Parts of bacterail chromosomal DNA become packaged into viral capside
- Phage infects another bacterium >> transfer of genetic material
Specialized transduction
- “Excision” event
- Lysogenic phages
- After incorporation of viral DNA into bacterial chromosome, when the phage DNA is excised from the bacterial DNA for production of viruses after activation of the viral infection, flanking bacterial genes are excised WITH it.
- DNA is packaged into phage viral capside
- Phage infects another bacterium >> transfer of genetic material
What are the 5 bacterial toxins encoded in a lysogenic phage?
ABCDE
- Shiga-like toxin
- Botulinum toxin
- Cholera toxin
- Diphtheria toxin
- Erythrogenic toxin of Streptococcus pyogenes
Name some bacteria that do not Gram stain well.
These Microbes May Lack Real Colour.
- Treponema
- Mycobacteria
- Mycoplasma
- Legionella pneumophila
- Rickettsia
- Chlamydia
Name the microorganisms that are stained by Giemsa stain.
Certain Bugs Really Try His Patience.
- Chlamydia
- Borrelia
- Rickettsia
- Trypanosomes
- Histoplasma
- Plasmodium
What is periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain used for?
Staining of:
- Mucopolysaccharides
- Glycogen
>> Whipple’s disease by Tropheryma whipplei
What organisms can be stained by Ziehl-Neelson (carbol fuchsin) stian?
- Mycobacterium
- Nocardia
What organism can be stained by India Ink?
Cryptococcus neoformans
What organisms can be stained by silver stain?
- Fungi (e.g. pneumocystis)
- Legionella
- Helicobacter pylori
Which bacteria can form spores?
- Bacillus: anthracis, cereus
- Clostridium: perfringens, tetani, botulinum
- Coxiella burnetii
Which bacteria have the ability of transformation (i.e. taking up naked DNA from a lysed cell by a living microorganism and incorporating that naked DNA into its own chromosomal DNA)?
SHiN
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Haemophilus influenzae
- Neisseria meningitidis
>> These three organisms are also mainly responsible for infections and deaths in asplenic individuals, and are also available as capsular conjugate vaccines.
Name the bacterial structure.
Mediates adherence of bacteria to the surface of a cell
Fimbria
Name the bacterial structure.
Protects against phagocytosis
Capsule
>> Organized and firmly adherent glycocalyx
Name the bacterial structure.
- Rgiid support to bacterial cell
- Protects against osmotic pressure differences
Peptidoglycan layer of the cell wall
Name the bacterial structure.
- Space between the inner and outer cellular membranes
- Unique to Gram-negative bacteria
Periplasmic scpae
Name the bacterial structure.
- Bacterial form providing resistance to heat, chemicals and dehydration
- Formed mainly by Bacillus and Clostridium species
- Also formed by Coxiella burnetii
Spores/endospores
Name the bacterial structure.
Forms attachment between two bacteria during conjugation (transfer of DNA material)
Pilus
>> Sex pilus
>> F-pilus
Name the bacterial structure.
- Genetic material within bacteria that contains genes for antibiotic resistance
- Not a part of the chromosomal DNA
Plasmid
Name the four main methods of bacterial genetic transfer.
- Conjugation
- Transposition (by transposons)
- Transformation (uptake of naked DNA from a lysed cell by a living microorganism)
- Transduction (generalized VS. specialized)
What are the properties of a superantigen? Which bacteria are famous for producing superantigens?
- Exotoxins that are able to bind to MHC II receptors and TCRs simultaneously
- This induces a polyclonal expansion of T-cells and thus a massive immune response, triggering release of large amounts of cytokines
- *Bacteria famous for producting superantigens:
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A Streptococcus)**
What are the exotoxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus?
- Alpha-toxin: hemolysis
- Beta-toxin: sphingomyelinase C
- Gamma-toxin
>> A+B = Hemolysin
>> B+C = Leukocidin - Delta-toxin: hemolysis
- Panton-Valentine leukocidin: bicomponent toxin especially found in MRSA
- Superantigens
>> Enterotoxins A-E: food poisoning
>> TSST-1: toxic shock syndrome (tampons; high fever, hypotension, diffuse rash)
>> Epidermolytic/exfoliative toxins: scalded skin syndrome
How does endotoxin induce damage in the host tissue?
1. Macrophage activation
- IL-1 and IL-6: fever
- TNF-alpha: fever, hypotension, cell death and cachexia
- Nitric oxide: hypotension
- Mediates the occurrence of septic shock
2. Complement activation
- C3a: hypotension, edema
- C5a: neutrophil chemotaxis
3. Tissue factor release
- Activates the coagulation cascade
- Can lead to disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC_
Name four exotoxins that work by inhibiting protein synthesis.
- Diphtheria toxin of Corynebacterium diphtheriae (inhibits EF-2)
- Exotoxin A of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (inhibits EF-2)
- Shiga toxin of Shigella species (inactivates 60S subunit of host ribosomes)
- Shiga-like toxin of EHEC (inactivates 60S subunit of host ribosomes)
Name 4 exotoxins that work by increasing fluid secretion (and thus usually causing watery diarrhea).
- Heat labile (increases cAMP) and heat stable (increased cGMP) toxins of ETEC
- Cholera toxin of Vibrio cholera (increases cAMP and thus increases Cl- and H2O efflux in the gut)
- Anthrax toxin of Bacillus anthracis (mimics adenylate cyclase)
- Pertussis toxin of Bordetella pertussis (disables Gi protein >> increases cAMP)
What toxin is secreted by Corynebacterium diphtheriae and what is its mechanism of action? What are its clinical effects?
- Diphtheria toxin
- Inhibits protein synthesis by inhibiting elongation factor 2 (EF-2)
- Clinical features
>> Pseudomembranous pharyngitis
>> Cardiac cell damage
>> Nerve cell damage
What toxin is secreted by enterhemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), and what is its mechanism of action? What are its clinical effects?
- Shiga-like toxin (verocytotoxin)
- Inactivates the 60S subunit of the hosts’ ribosomes by cleaving adenine from rRNA, and thus inhibiting protein synthesis
- Enhances cytokine release >> hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)
>> Hemolytic anemia
>> Thrombocytopenia
>> Acute renal failure
What toxin is secreted by Shigella species, and what is its mechanism of action? What are its clinical effects?
- Shiga toxin
- Inactivates 60S subunit of the hosts’ ribosomes by cleaving adenine from rRNA, and thus inhibits protein synthesis
- Clinical effects:
>> GI mucosal damage – dysentery
>> Enhances cytokine release – hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)
What toxin is secreted by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and what is its mechanism of action? What are its clinical effects?
- Exotoxin A
- Inhibits elongation factor 2 (EF-2) and thus inhibits protein synthesis
- Causes host cell death
What toxin is secreted by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), and what is its mechanism of action? What are its clinical effects?
- Heat stable and heat labile toxins
- Heat labile toxin overstimulates adenylate cyclase >> increases intracellular cAMP
- Heat stable toxin overstimulates guanylate cyclase >> increases intracellular cGMP
- Clinical effects
>> Watery diarrhea
>> ETEC is the leading cause of traveller’s diarrhea
RMB: Los Angeles and Singapore!
What toxin is secreted by Bacillus anthracis, what are its components and what are their mechanisms of action? What are the clinical effects?
- Anthrax toxin
>> Edema factor
>> Lethal factor
>> Protective factor - Edema factor mimics adenylate cyclase and thus increases intracellular cAMP
- Leads to the characteristic edematous borders of the black eschar in cutaneous anthrax
What toxin is secreted by Vibrio cholerae, and what is its mechanism of action? What are its clinical effects?
- Cholera toxin
- Permanently activates Gs proteins and thus overstimulates adenylate cyclase >> increased intracellular cAMP levels >> increased Cl- and H2O efflux
- Causes watery diarrhea
>> Rehydration is life-saving in cholera!
What toxin is secreted by Bordetella pertussis, and what is its mechanism of action? What are its clinical effects?
- Pertussis toxin
- Disables Gi proteins >> adenylate cyclase work uninhibited >> increased intracellular cAMP levels
-
Whooping cough
>> Seen in children
>> Whoops on inspiration
>> Coughs on expiration
What toxin is secreted by Clostridium perfringens, and what is its mechanism of action? What are its clinical effects?
- Alpha toxin
- A phospholipase (lecithinase) causing lysis of cell membranes and tissue damage
- Clinical effects
>> Gas gangrene
>> Myonecrosis
What toxin is secreted by Clostridium tetani, and what is its mechanism of action? What are its clinical effects?
- Tetanospasmin
- Cleaves SNARES that are required for neurotransmitter release >> inhibits release of GABA and glycine from the neurons (esp. in the Renshaw cells of the spinal cord)
- Clinical effects
>> Spastic paralysis
>> Risus sardonicus
>> Lock-jaw
What toxin is secreted by Clostridium botulinum, and what is its mechanism of action? What are its clinical effects?
- Botulinum toxin
- Cleaves SNARES that are required for neurotransmitter release >> prevents release of ACh at neuromuscular junctions mainly
- Clinical effects: flaccid paralysis
What are the exotoxins produced by Streptococcus pyogenes?
- Streptolysin O: oxygen labile
- Streptolysin S: oxygen stable
- Erythrogenic/pyrogenic toxins A, B and C (superantigens)
>> Scarlet fever
>> Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome
What organism causes pseudo-appendicitis?
Yersinia enterocolitica
What are the 3 components of anthrax toxin?
- Edema factor
- Lethal factor
- Protective antigen
Name 7 bacteria that produce enterotoxins (exotoxins that causes gut electrolyte and water imbalances leading to diarrhea).
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Shigella species
- Enterohemorrhagic E. Coli (EHEC) – O157:H7
- Enterotoxigenic E. Coli (ETEC)
- Vibrio cholerae
- Yersinia enterocolitica
- Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium difficile
What is the mechanism of resistance in MRSA?
Altered penicillin-binding protein
What bacterium is known to produce large golden colonies?
Staphylococcus aureus
What bacterium is known to produce blue-green pigments?
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
What bacterium is known to produce yellow sulfur granules?
Actinomyces israelii
>> Anaerobic
>> Not acid-fast
>> Gram-positive branching filaments
What bacterium is known to produce red pigments?
Serratia marcescens
What is the first and second most common cause of uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI) in young women?
- Escherichia coli
- Staphylococcus saprophyticus (catalase +ve, coagulase -ve, novobiocin resistant)
What vaccinations are available against Streptococcus pneumoniae?
- Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13): for infants
- Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23): for adults
What are the indications for pneumococcal vaccination for adults?
- Age 65 years of above
- Age 2-64 years with chronic illness
- Smoker
- Asthmatic
- Disease that decreases immune response
>> Leukemia
>> Lymphoma
>> Renal failure
>> HIV infection
>> Asplenia - Medication that decreases immune response
>> Steroids
>> Chemotherapy
>> Radiation therapy
What virulence factor does Staphylococcus aureus have other than exotoxins?
Protein A
- Binds to Fc-IgG
- Inhibits complement activation and thus disrupts opsonization
- Disrupts phagocytosis
What important virulence factors do Streptococcus pneumoniae have?
-
Capsule
>> There is no virulence if the pneumococcus has no capsule -
IgA protease
>> IgA protects mucosal surfaces from bacterial infection
>> IgA protease cleaves IgA, providing a survival advantage for the pneumococci that is trying to colonize the respiratory mucosae
What are the classical presenting features for pneumococcus pneumonia?
- Sudden onset of chills
- Lobar consolidation
- “Rusty colour” sputum
What infections does Streptococcus pneumoniae usually cause?
MOPS
- Meningitis
- Otitis media (especially in children)
- Pneumonia
- Sinusitis
What are some classes of Viridans Streptococcus?
- Strep. mutans
- Strep. salivarius
- Strep. anginosus
- Strep. mitis
- Strep. sanguinis
What types of infections/diseases can Streptococcus pyogenes cause?
Pyogenic diseases
- Pharyngitis
- Cellulitis/impetigo
- Systemic infections: pneumonia, bacteremia, necrotizing fasciitis
Toxin-mediated diseases
- Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome
- Necrotizing fasciitis
Immunological diseases
- Rheumatic fever (following strep throat)
- Acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (following either pharyngitis or skin infection)
What is the diagnostic criteria for rheumatic fever?
Jones Criteria
>> 2 major criteria OR 1 major criterium plus 2 minor criteria
Major criteria
- Joints: polyarthritis
- <3: pancarditis (endo/myo/peri)
- Nodules: subcutaneous/Aschoff nodules
- Erythema marginatum
- Sydenham chorea
Minor criteria
- Fever
- Arthralgia
- Elevated ESR or CRP
- Prolonged PR interval on ECG
What are some clinical features for Scarlet fever?
- Scarlet sandpaper-like rash
- Strawberry tongue
- Circumoral pallor
What infections can Group B streptococcus (Streptococcus agalactiae)?
Babies/Neonates
- Pneumonia
- Meningitis
- Sepsis
Pregnant Women
- Asymptomatic bacteruria
- Urinary tract infection
- Post-partum endometritis
- Bacteremia
Non-Pregnant Women
- Bacteremia
- Skin and soft tissue infections
Name the three most common organisms causing neonatal sepsis.
- Group B streptococcus
- Escherichia coli
- Listeria monocytogenes
Where are Viridians streptococci usually found?
Normal flora of the oropharynx
Where is Streptococcus agalactiae usually found?
Normal flora of the vagina in 25% of women
>> Asymptomatic carriers
Where are enterococci usually found?
Normal colonic flora
What infections do enterococci usually cause?
- Urinary tract infections
- Biliary tract infections
- Subacute bacterial endocarditis