Microbiology Flashcards
what is the most common bacterial cause of sore throat?
strep pyogenes
what is the treatment of strep pyogenes sore throat?
oral penicillin
clarithromycin if allergic
what is the Centor criteria for using antibiotics to treat a sore throat? (ie suggests cause is bacterial)
3/4
- fever
- purulent tonsils
- cervical lymphadenopathy
- no cough
what are the 3 acute complications of a strep sore throat?
peritonsillar abscess (quinsy)
sinusitis/otitis media
scarlet fever
what is a peritonsillar abscess?
when the whole peritonsilar area becomes infected and an absces is formed
in diptheria, what can be seen around the pharynx?
grey/white membrane
what is the name for otitis media with effusion?
glue ear
what is glue ear?
fluid behind the ear drum in the absence of infection
what are the 3 most common bacterial causes of otitis media?
haemophilus influenzae
strep pneumoniae
strep pyogenes
when may immediate antibiotic treatment be used for otitis media?
if its acute and bilateral under the age of 2
if there is otorrhoea
what is the empirical treatment for otitis media? (if antibiotics required)
amoxicillin
what are the 3 most common bacterial causes of otits externa
staph aureus
proteus spp
pesudomonas aeruginosa
what is palatal petechiae?
bruising on palate
what does a very high number of atypical lymphocytes indicate?
very indicative of epstein barr virus
what tests indicate acute epstein barr virus infection?
IgM
paul-bunnel test or monospot test (specific antibodies against horse blood cells)
