Microbiology Flashcards
Describe the characteristics of Gram positive bacteria, and give examples.
Stain purple with gram stain.
Simpler cell wall than gram negative, but a thicker peptidoglycan layer.
2 main cell wall layers- peptidoglycan (with lipotechoic acid and techoic acid), and then an inner/cytoplasmic membrane.
Are less resistant to antibiotics.
Examples: streptococcus, staphylococcus, Bacillus, Chlostridium, Listeria
Describe the characteristics of Gram negative bacteria, and give examples.
Stain pink with gram stain.
More complex cell wall: lipopolysaccharide, then an outer phospholipid membrane, petidoglycan then inner membrance.
More resistant to antibiotics.
Outer membrane with LPS- lipid portion is toxic and can cause fever and shock.
Examples: E.coli, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, cyanobacteria, proteobacteria, helicobacter.
Where are lactobacilli normally found in the body?
Vagina
Where are candida albicans normally found in the body?
Vagina, mouth, skin
How are streptococcus bacteria arranged?
In a chain of cocci (spheres)
How are staphylococcus bacteria arranged?
In a bunch of cocci (spheres)
What are the 4 main components of bacteria which antibiotics target?
- Cell wall- Beta lactams (Penicillins, Cephalosporins and Carbapenems) and Glycopeptides (Vancomycin and Teicoplanin)
- Protein synthesis (Tetracyclines eg, Doxycycline, Aminoglycosides eg Gentamycin, Macrolides eg. Erythromycin and Streptogramins eg. Pristamycin)
- Folate synthesis (Trimethoprim or Sulfonamides eg. Sulfadiazine)
- DNA synthesis - Quinolones (Ciprofloxacin) or Metronidazole
How do Beta lactam antibiotics work? Give examples. What are their common significant side effects?
Beta lactams include Penicillins eg, Amoxicillin, Cephalosporins eg. Cephalexin, and Carbapenems eg. Imipenem.
Bind transpeptidases, preventing peptidoglycan cross-linkage.
Side effects include hyposensitivity, CNS toxicity and seizures, and increased risk of GI disturbances and C. Difficile.
How do Glycopeptides work? Give examples. What are their common significant side effects?
Glycopeptides (eg. Vancomycin and Teicoplanin) work by binding peptides in peptidoglycan, to inhibit cross-linking.
Side effects include Nephrotoxicity and Red man syndrome (an infusion related hypersensitivity reaction)
How do Tetracyclines work? Give examples. What are their common significant side effects?
Tetracyclins (eg. Doxycycline) work by inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis, by binding to the 30S ribosome subunit.
Side effects include Binding to teeth and causing staining.
How do Aminoglycosides work?Give examples. What are their common significant side effects?
eg Gentamycin.
Prevent bacterial protein synthesis, by binding the 30S ribosome subunit.
Side effects include being nephrotoxic and ototoxic.
How do Quinolones work? Give examples.
Quinolones include Ciprofloxacin and Moxifloxacin.
They work by inhibiting bacterial DNA synthesis, by inhibiting bacterial DNA gyrase.
Describe the process of gram staining.
- Add Crystal violet.
- Fix with iodine.
- Wash with acetone.
- Counterstain with neutral red.
How do Sulfonamide antibiotics work? give examples of side effects.
Inhibit folate synthesis, by preventing addition of para-amino benzoic acid to folic acid.
Side effects include Steven-Johnson syndrome, skin rash.
Give examples of Gram positive bacteria.
Bacilli- Aerobic = Listeria, Bacillus
Anaerobic= C.diff
Cocci- Staph eg. S.aureus, S.epidermidis
Strep- S.pneumoniae, S.pyogenes
Give examples of Gram negative bacteria
Diplococci: Neisseria meningitidis, N. Gonorrhoea
Coccobacilli: Haem influenzae, Brucella, B.pertussis
Bacilli: Shigella, Salmonella, E.coli, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Enterobacter
Name some infections of the skin epidermis.
Impetigo
Folliculitis
Furunculosis
Name 2 infections of the skin dermis.
Carbunculosis
Erysipelas (rare)
Name 2 infections of the subcuntaneus layer of skin.
Cellulitis
Necrotising fascitis
What is impetigo?
Infection of epidermis
More common in children
Golden crusts on erythematous skin
What is folliculitis?
Infected hair follicle- often the scalp and groin.
How is folliculitis treated?
Flucloxacillin
What is furunculosis?
Deep inflammation due to folliculitis
What is a carbuncle?
Boil in the dermis, extending into subcutaneous layer
Abscess forms
What is cellulitis and where does it appear?
Inflammation of dermis/ subcutaneous layer Often lower limbs, unilateral Red, hot, swollen, painful No necrosis May be red halo around a joint
How is cellulitis treated?
Penicillin V AND Flucloxacillin
Which bacteria usually causes cellulitis?
S. Aurues
Occaisionally S. pyogenes
What results may be found on a blood test of a patient with cellulitis?
Raised WCC and CRP
What is erysipelas and where might it be found?
Rare
Infection of dermis/subcutaneous layer or face/legs
Clear border, raised orange peel appearance
Which Bacteria usually causes Erysipelas?
Group A Strep
How is Erysipelas treated?
Penicillin
What are the 3 stages of necrotising fascitis?
- Acute- trauma and pain disproportionate to injury. Flu like symptoms
- Advanced- purple swelling
- Critical- toxic shock, drop in BP, unconscious
Which bacteria usually cause necrotising fascitis?
Group A Strep
Which bacteria causes gas gangrene?
Chlostridium perfringens
Which bacteria usually cause Septic arthritis?
S. aureus
Strep
N. Gonorrhoea
Gram negative bacilli
What are the risk factors for septic arthritis?
Joint disease
Immunosuppression
Recent joint surgery
Diabetes, CKD
Which joint is most commonly affected by septic arthritis?
Knee
How is septic arthritis treated?
IV Flucloxacillin
May need debridement
What is osteomyelitis?
Bone infection
Often in long bones of legs, arms or back
How is osteomyelitis treated?
Flucloxacillin
What is a dermatophyte infection?
Fungal infection of skin also known as tinea
How are dermatophyte infections treated?
Antifungals eg. Nystatin, Canestan
If drug resistant or invasive use Fluconazole
What are the 2 most common causes of soft tissue infections?
S. Aureus
S. Pyogenes
Treponema pallidum causes which STI?
Syphillis
What type of bacteria is Gonorrhoea?
Gram neg diplococci
How is a gonorrhoea infection treated?
Penicillin
If allergic: Cephalosporin or Ciprofloxacin
What type of bacteria is Chlamydia?
Gram negative
Obligate intracellular so cant grow on culture media
Has elementary body and reticulate body
How is chlamydia treated?
Tetracyclines eg. Doxycycline
What type of organism is Trichomonas vaginalis?
Protozoa with flagella
How is Trichomonas vaginalis treated?
Metronidazole
What type of organism is Candida albicans and how is it treated?
Yeast
Fluconazole
What is a chancre?
Syphilis sore
Firm painless not itchy
Disappears after 4 weeks but bacteria remain
Which organisms most commonly cause a UTI?
E coli
Pseudomonas aeruginosa in complicated patients
Proteus mirabilis is often associated with __________
Kidney stones
Which antibiotics are recommended for UTIs?
NItrofurantoin (has low resistance risk) BD for 3 days
Trimethoprim BD for 3 days
Which antibiotics are recommended for acute pyelonephritis?
Cefalexin (Cephalosporin)
Co-Amoxiclav
What is diagnostic of a UTI?
Pyuria
>10^% CFU/ml
What type of virus is Hep A and how is it spread?
ssRNA
Faeco oral, contaminated food and water and shellfish
Where Hep A virus is endemic how is it spread?
Person to person contact
Usually younger patients (asymptomatic)
How can Hep A be diagnosed on blood test?
HAV IgM raised from day 25
HAV IgG raised for life
AST and ALT raised
What are the risk factors for Hep A?
Travel
MSM
IVDU
Which types of Hepatitis are vaccines available for?
Hep A Hep B (indirectly Hep D)
How is Hep B spread?
Blood IVDU Sex Direct conact Vertical transmission
Where Hep B is endemic it leads to ___________ infection.
Chronic
Where Hep B is sporadic it leads to ____________ infection.
Acute
How can Hep B be diagnosed on a blood test?
HbsAg (Hep B surface antigen) HbeAg (Hep B e antigen- determines infectivity) Anti Hbs Anti Hbe IgM (acute) IgG (chronic)
Raised LFTs
Hep B infection can lead to ___________
Cirrhosis
Hepatocellular carcinoma
What will be the blood results in ACUTE Hep B infection?
Raised LFTs
HbsAg positive
HbeAg positive
Anti Hbe may be present
IgM and IgG
What will be the blood results in PAST Hep B infection?
Normal LFTs
HbsAg positive
HbeAg may be positive
Anti Hbs
IgG
What type of virus is Hep B?
dsDNA enveloped
Which Hepatitis viruses are ssRNA viruses?
Hep A
Hep C
Hep D
Hep E
Which Hepatitis viruses have envelopes?
Hep B
Hep C
Hep D (uses Hep B)
How can Hep B be treated?
Interferons
Lamivudine
What type of vaccine is the Hep B vaccine?
Recombinant
Booster needed every 5 years
Aim for antibodies >100
How is Hepatitis C spread?
Blood, IVDU, Sex, Vertical
85% of people infected wtih Hepatitis C develop ____________
Chronic silent infection
25% then develop cirrhosis
(4% develop cancer)
How can Hep C be diagnosed on blood test?
Hep C RNA
Anti HCV
What are the risk factors for the likelihood that Hep C will progress to cirrhosis or cancer?
Alcohol
Co-infection with Hep B or HIV
Older age
Male
How can Hep C be treated?
Interferon
Ribavirin
Direct acting antivirals
What type of virus is Hep D?
ssRNA with no envelope
Uses Hep B envelope
How is Hep D transmitted?
Blood, IVDU, Sex
What is the difference between Hep D co-infection and superinfection?
Co-infection: Hep B and D together; severe acute disease, low chronic risk
Super infection: Hep B carrier then Hep D infection; chronic Hep D, high risk of chronic liver disease
How is Hep E spread?
Faeco-oral route. associated with pigs
How many genotypes of Hep E virus are there?
4
1,2 and 4 in endemic areas
3 in non-endemic areas
How can Hep E be treated?
Ribavirin
What type of virus is HIV?
Group 6 retrovirus 2 species (1 high virulence, 2 low virulence)
How can HIV be transmitted?
- Sexual
- Parenteral- blood and needles
- Vertical
What are the 3 stages of HIV?
- Seroconversion- acute, flu, rash, 2-4 weeks post infection
- Asymptomatic- slow decline in CD4 cells
- AIDS- CD4 count below 200, susceptible to virulent infections then opportunistic infections
What percentage of people with HIV in the UK are undiagnosed?
12%
What are the AIDs defining conditions?
- Tuberculosis
- Kaposi’s sarcoma
- Pneumocystis (fungi)
- Cryptosporidiosis (parasite)
- Cerebral toxoplasmosis (protozoa)
What are the signs and symptoms of endocarditis?
Fever, night sweats, weight loss New murmur Osler's nodes Janeway lesions Splinter haemorrhages Anaemia Splenomegaly
Which organisms most commonly cause endocarditis?
Strep (alpha haemolytic)
Staph
Enterococci
What is sepsis?
Life threatening organ dysfunction
Caused by disregulated host response to infection
What is septic shock?
Sepsis with
1. Lactate >2 despite adequate fluids
or
2. Vasopressors needed to maintain MAP >65
How should sepsis be treated?
- Broad spectrum antibiotics eg. Meropenem, Cephalosporin
- Fluids
- Oxygen
What are the innate causes of immunodeficiency?
- Neutrophil defect eg. Chronic granulomatous disease
- NK defect
- Complement defect
- Cytokine defect
- Splenectomy
What are the adaptive causes of immunodeficiency?
- B cell/antibody defect
2. T cell defect eg. Di George syndrome
What are secondary causes of immunodeficiency?
- Splenectomy
- Chemotherapy
- AIDS
- Neutropenia
Which infections do patients who have had a splenectomy usually present with?
Pneumococcus
Meningococcus
Malaria
(encapsulated bacteria)
How do neutropenic patients present?
Bacterial or fungal infections without pus
Fever
Aplastic anaemia
What is the chance of obtaining Hep C from a needle stick injury?
3%
What type of bacteria is Salmonella?
Gram negative bacilli
What type of bacteria is Enterococci?
Gram positive cocci
What type of bacteria is Listeria?
Gram positive bacilli
What type of bacteria is Neisseria?
Gram negative diplococci
What type of organism is pneumocystis carinni?
Fungi
The most common infection in AIDs
What is the most common species of malaria?
Plasmodum falciparum
What is the treatment for malaria?
Quinine
Artesunate
What is the incubation period for dengue fever?
7-14 days
What is a Rickettsial infection?
Gram negative bacteria
Transmitted by ticks and fleas
Causes Typhus, Pox, African tick bite fever
How is Rickettsial infection treated?
Doxycycline
What is Histoplasmosis?
Infection caused by breathing in fungal spores from bird or bat droppings
What is Schistosomiasis?
Parasitic flatworm
Lives in freshwater
Causes urinary and bowel infections
What type of antibiotic is Doxycycline?
Tetracycline
Inhibits protein synthesis
Used for COPD, Chlamydia, malaria
What type of antibiotic is Flucloxacillin?
Penicillin
What type of antibiotic is Gentamicin?
Aminoglycoside
What type of antibiotic is Erythromycin/Clarithromycin?
Macrolide
What type of antibiotic is Metronidazole?
Quinolone
What type of antibiotic is Trimethoprim?
Folate synthesis inhibitor
Cephalosporins and Carbapenems are _________ spectrum antibiotics.
Broad
Give examples of Glycopeptide antibiotics.
What can they be used for?
Teicoplanin
Vancomycin
MRSA, Complicated gram positive infections
When should PEP be taken?
Ideally within 24 hours of potential exposure
Within 72 hours
Taken for 28 days
Which drugs does PEP contain?
- Truvada (Emtricitbabine and Tenofovir)
2. Raltegravir
Quinine and artesunate are used to treat which infection?
Malaria