Microbiology Flashcards
How do you treat an infective endocarditis?
If Strep IV Benzylpenicillin and Gentamycin
If Staph IV Flycloxacillin and gentamicin
For both supportive care and consider surgery such as valve replacement
Which organism is the commonest cause of Community Aquired Pneumonia?
S. Pneumoniae
What are the symptoms of Pneumonia?
Fever Productive Cough Pleuritic Chest Pain SOB Systemic Features such as hypotension
What are the clinical signs of pneumonia?
Abnormal Vital Signs - increased respiratory rate
Unilateral signs of consolidation (dull percussion, reduced air entry on auscultation, crackles, wheeze)
Which investigations should be performed when pneumonia is suspected?
Bloods - CRP, ABG to check for respiratory failure)
Chest Z Ray - Opacity/Consolidation of Affected Lobe
Sputum Sample and blood cultures
How do you assess severity of CAP? Why are they important?
CURB 65: Confusion, urea (>7mmol/L), RR (>30/min), BP (<90mmHg), ≧ Age 65
Mild: 0-1 (outpatient)
Moderate: 2 (hospital admission)
Severe: 3+ (hospital admission + ?ICU)
How is Community Acquired Pneumonia treated?
O2, analgesia (pleuritic pain), IV fluids
Mild: PO amoxicillin
Moderate: PO amoxicillin + clarithromycin
Severe: IV co-amoxiclav + clarithromycin
Give two complications of pneumonia.
Empyema
Lung Abscess
What is empyema?
Pleural empyema is a collection of pus in the pleural cavity caused by microorganisms, usually bacteria. Often it happens in the context of a pneumonia, injury, or chest surgery. It is one of various kinds of pleural effusion.
How is hospital acquired pneumonia defined?
Defined as new onset cough w/ purelent sputum,
acquired 2 days or more after admission,
CXR showing consolidation
What are the common causes of Hospital Acquired Pneumonia?
Same organisms as CAP (S. Pneumonia)
But also Staph Aureus (+ MRSA), Klebsiella Pneumoniae, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa
Which antibiotic might you use if someone has a pneumonia caused by MRSA? Why?
Vancomycin - It is Broad Spectrum
What is the diagnostic criteria for Infective Endocarditis? What is required for diagnosis?
Duke’s Criteria
Definite Infective Endocarditis: either 2 major and 1 minor criteria / 1 major and 3 minors / 5 minors
Possible IE: 1 major and 1 minor or 3 minors
What are the Dukes Criteria?
BE FEVEER
Major:
Blood Cultures Positive more than 12 hours apart
Evidence of Endocardial Involvement (ECHO)
Minor:
Fever
Echo
Evidence from Microbiology (positive blood cultures not meeting major criteria)
Evidence from immunology (Roths Spots, Oslers Nodes, Glomerulonephritis)
Risk Groups (prosthetic valve, IVDU, Valvular Disease)
How is a gram stain performed?
Fixation Crystal Violet Iodine Treatment Discolourisation Counter Stain with Safranin
How are staphylococcus and streptococcus differentiated?
Staph - Clusters
Strep - Chains
Test to differentiate - Catalase Positive Staph, Catalase Neg Strep
How are the different streptococci differentiated?
Haemolysis on Blood Agar: Alpha Haemolytic (Greening around colonies) Beta Haemolytic (Clearing around colonies)
What can be done after haemolysis to further differentiate streptococci?
If alpha - Optochin test - if sensitive S. Pneumoniae, if resistant S. Viridans
If Beta - Lancefield groups - for example A = S. Pyogenes
How are the different Staphylococci differentiated?
Coagulase Test - if positive S. Aureus, if negative commonly s. epidermidis
What are the two main groups of gram positive bacilli?
Aerobic (e.g. listeria monocytogenes) and Anaerobic (e.g. clostridium difficile)
Are Staphylococcus and Streptococcus gram positive or gram negative?
Gram Positive
What are examples of Gram Negative cocci?
Neisseria (N. Gonorrhoea, N. Miningitidis)
How do you differentiate between Gram Negative Bacilli?
MacConkey Plate
Lactose Fermenters (Pink): E. coli, Klebsiella Pneumoniae
Non Lactose Fermenters (Pale): Oxidase Test (If negative salmonella and shigella which are differentiated by XLD)
Which antibiotics are Beta lactams? What does this mean?
Beta Lactams inhibit cell wall synthesis:
Penicillins such as benzylpenicillin, flucloxacillin, amoxicillin
Cephalosporins such as cqphalexin, cefuroxime, ceftazimide
Carbapenems such as imipenem, ertapenem
Which antibiotic inhibits folate synthesis and therefore nucleic acid synthesis?
Trimethoprim
Which antibiotic inhibits DNA gyrase and therefore nucleic acid synthesis?
Fluroquinolones
Which antibiotic binds to RNA polymerase and is used to treat TB?
Rifampicin
Which antibiotic breaks the DNA strand?
Metronidazole