Microbiology Flashcards
Name five virulence factors
- adhesin
- invasin
- impedin
- aggressin
- modulin
What does adhesin do?
Enables binding of the organism to host tissue
What does invasin do?
Enables the organism to invade a host cell/tissue
What does impedin do?
Enables the organism to avoid host defence mechanisms
What does aggressin do?
Causes damage to the host directly
What does modulin do?
Induces damage to the host indirectly
State the name for hospital acquired
Nosocomial
What skin conditions can staph aureus cause?
- folliculitis
- carbuncle (boils)
- abscess
- impetigo
- scalded skin syndrome
- toxic shock syndrome
State the virulence factors of staph aureus
- adhesin (collagen & fibrinogen binding protein)
- coagulase positive (clots plasma)
- PVL (leukocidin - kills leukocytes)
- TSST-1 (shock, rash, desquamation)
Describe how toxic shock syndrome arises
Superantigen TSST1 activates 1 in 5 T cells causing a massive release of cytokines & inappropriate immune response
What are the signs and symptoms of toxic shock syndrome?
Diffuse macular erythroderma
Hypotension
>/= three organ systems involved
Also includes high fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, sore throat, muscle pain
How does scaled skin syndrome arise?
Toxins produced by specific types of staph aureus cause disruption of epidermal keratinocyte adhesion causing blistering, desquamation and re-epithelialisation
What are the signs and symptoms of SSS?
Pyrexia, tender erythema, superficial blisters that are easy to burst, bulls impetigo (skin looks burnt).
Why are young children mainly affected by SSS?
As they have underdeveloped immune systems & kidneys
How is SSS diagnosed?
Swab
What does PVL stand for?
Panton Valentine Leukocidin
Describe the mechanism of action of PVL
Toxin that can kill white blood cells & cause damage to skin and deeper tissue
What are the five C’s of PVL?
Close contact Contaminated items Crowding Cleanliness Cuts
How can PVL present?
Recurrent and painful boils/red areas of skin that don’t get better with antibiotics
How is PVL diagnosed?
Swab
What happens if PVL is combined with other toxins e.g MRSA or alpha toxin?
Necrotising pneumonia
What is the most common type of group A strep?
Strep pyogenes - most GAS come under this name however there are some other GAS strains
How can strep pyogenes be identified?
Beta haemolysis & by lancefield system
What is the lancefield system?
Serotyping cell wall carbohydrate of change in M protein
What conditions can GAS cause?
- impetigo
- cellulitis
- erysipelas
- necrotising fascitis
- infected eczema
Describe the presentation of impetigo
Red, sore, itchy skin with pus filled blisters on hands and face which pop to leave brown crusty patches
What is cellulitis?
Infection of the dermis that is not associated with necrosis
What is erysipelas?
Infection of the upper dermis & superficial lymphatics
How will cellulitis and erysipelas present?
Cellulitis - lower leg (ill defined edge)
Erysipelas - legs and face (sharp edge)
Pyrexia, shivers, sore, swollen, erythema, blisters, enlarged lymph nodes.
What causes necrotising fasciitis?
invasive GAS
Describe necrotising fasciitis
Penetration of mucous membrane causes a lesion and bacteria rapidly destroys the connective tissue
Name the symptoms of necrotising fasciitis
Severe pain, fever, purple coloured skin, abscess, vomiting
Necrosis - bullae, bleeding into the skin, reduced sensation, shock. Spreads along facial planes - life threatening disease
State four virulence factors of invasive GAS responsible for necrotising fasciitis
- haemolysin
- superantigen
- streptolysin
- capsule