Microbiology and Infectious Disease Flashcards
define pathogen
an organism that is capable of causing disease
define commensal
organism which colonises the host but does not cause disease in normal circumstances
define opportunist pathogen
microbe that only causes disease if host defences are compromised
define virulence/pathogenicity
the degree to which a given organism is pathogenic
define asymptomatic carriage
when a pathogen is carried harmlessly at a tissue site where it causes no disease
describe the structure of a Gram negative bacterial cell envelope
inner cell membrane, thin peptidoglycan layer, outer cell membrane, lipopolysaccharide layer, outer capsule.
describe the structure of a Gram positive bacterial cell envelope
thick layer of peptidoglycan between the outer capsule + inner cell membrane.
what is a bacterial endotoxin? describe features
a component of the cell wall that is released when the bacteria is damaged.
less specific actions than an exotoxin e.g. septic shock
what is a bacterial exotoxin? describe features
mainly excreted by Gram +ve bacteria. actively secreted toxins with specific actions.
how might bacterial genes be transferred between bacteria?
transformation e.g. via plasmid.
transduction e.g. via phage.
conjugation e.g. via sex pilus.
describe the process of Gram staining
- heat fix sample to slide
- add methyl violet (blue/purple)
- add iodine - fixes methyl violet to gram +ve samples
- add alcohol to decolorize Gram -ve samples
- counterstain with basic fuchsin (red)
what is the normal habitat of staphylococcus spp?
nose and skin
how is S aureus spread?
aerosol and touch
what agar is used to grow enterobacteria?
MacConkey - bile salts, lactose, pH indicator
How do you distinguish Salmonella/Shigella from E coli on a MacConkey-lactose agar?
E.coli = pink, as it is lactose fermenting Shigella/salmonella = yellow, non-lactose fermenting
how would you distinguish between Salmonella and Shigella?
serology, as both are non-lactose fermenting so appear the same on MacConkey agar
what are the main infections caused by pathogenic E coli strains?
wound infections (surgical). UTIs. gastroenteritis. travellers' diarrhoea. bacteraemia. meningitis.
what 3 infections are caused by salmonella?
- gastroenteritis - food poisoning (localised infection)
- enteric fever - typhoid (systemic infection)
- bacteraemia - uncommon
what agar must H influenzae be grown on and why?
fastidious - requires haem and NAD - will not grow on blood agar, only chocolate agar (blood agar that has been heated so haem and NAD are released by RBCs).
non-motile.
describe the main features of Legionella pneumophila and Legionnaires’ disease
seen in immunocompromised (elderly, alcoholics, smokers).
severe.
culture on charcoal agar.
found in man-made aquatic environments - replicates within freshwater protozoa.
can infect alveolar macrophages.
induces phagocytosis.
what are the clinical features of an infection with campylobacter?
mild to severe diarrhoea, often with blood.
self-limiting (up to 1 wk).
campylobacter shed in faeces for 3wks.
describe the features of bacteroides? where are they typically found as commensals?
non-motile rods.
strict anaerobes.
commensal flora of large intestine (also commensal in vagina/cervix).
what shape are bacteroides?
bacilli
what shape are spirochaetes?
spiral/helical
describe the cell wall of fungi and how it stains?
rigid. polysaccharides and chitin.
stain with Gomorra methenamine silver, and periodic acid-Schiff.
lack a capsule.
describe the features of yeasts
unicellular.
round/oval.
asexual - reproduce by budding.
what are dimorphic fungi?
fungi which grow as yeasts in tissue, but as moulds in-vitro.
describe the features of moulds
composed of tubular structures (hyphae).
grow by longitudinal extension and branching - interwoven mycelium.
reproduce by spore formation (sexual/asexual).
what type of fungi is candida albicans?
yeast
give some examples of moulds
aspergillus spp.,
fusarium spp.
mucoraceous moulds.
dark-walled fungi.
what are the 3 types of fungal infection?
- superficial mycoses
- subcutaneous mycoses
- systemic mycoses
name some common sites for superficial mycoses
skin, hair, nails, mucous membranes
what are the two main kinds of infection seen in superficial mycoses?
ringworm.
yeast infections.
what pathogens cause ringworm (dermatophytosis, tinea - athletes foot, swimmers crotch etc)?
tricophyton spp.
microsporum spp.
epidermophyton spp.
describe the transmission of ringworm infections
direct or indirect transfer of infected keratin - e.g. communal bathing facilities.
describe the different types of aspergillus infection
- invasive aspergillosis - neutropaenic patients. treat with amphotericin.
- allergic aspergillosis - ABPA
- aspergilloma - fungus ball in pre-existing cavity of lung.
describe the basic idea behind the treatment of fungal infections, and give examples of drugs used.
use drugs that target sterols in their cell membranes. topical - nystatin, ketoconazole. systemic: oral - fluconazole/other azoles parenteral - amphotericin.
give some examples of mycobacteria of medical importance, and the diseases they cause
M. tuberculosis = TB M. leprae = leprosy M. kansaii = chronic lung infection M. marinum = fish tank granuloma M. ulcerans = buruli ulcer
why will immunocompromised patients show disseminated mycobacterial disease, instead of characteristic granulomas?
they don’t have enough T cell function to form granulomatas
describe the microbiological features of mycobacteria
aerobic, non-spore forming, non-motile bacilli.
cell walls contain a lot of high molecular weight lipids - weakly gram-positive/colourless.
slow growing.
what does the thick lipid coating of mycobacteria allow them to do?
survive inside macrophages, even in low pH environment
what are the key cell wall components of mycobacteria?
mycolic acids.
lipoarabinomannan
describe Koch’s postulates for a disease to be defined as caused by bacteria (/mycobacteria etc)
- bacteria should be found in all people with disease
- bacteria should be isolated from infected lesions
- a pure culture inoculated into a susceptible person should produce disease symptoms
- same bacteria should then be isolated from that individual
what stain is used for mycobacteria and why?
Ziehl-Neelsen stain for acid fast bacilli - high lipid content in cell wall makes mycobacteria resistant to Gram stain
what type of granuloma is typically seen in TB?
caseating
what are the main principles of mycobacterial treatment?
- slowly replicating bacteria - so need prolonged treatment
- multiple drug combinations to combat resistance
- compliance is essential - directly observe therapy used
describe the standard drug regime for tuberculosis
isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol for 2mths.
then isoniazid and rifampicin for 4 further months.
what makes up the primary complex of primary TB?
granuloma + lymphatics + lymph node
where in the lung are tuberculosis bacilli most likely to form a granuloma and why?
apex - there is more air and less blood supply, so fewer defending WBCs to fight
what is latent TB?
cell-mediated immune response from T cells manages to contain primary infection, but it persists.
no clinical disease (normal CXR).
what is pulmonary TB?
follows after primary disease, or after latent reactivation.
necrosis in lesion. caseous material coughed up, leaving cavity. TB may spread in lung causing other lesions.
where, apart from the lungs, may TB spread?
GU TB peritoneal TB TB meningitis widespread = miliary TB. pleural TB bone and joint TB
what are the three groups of helminths?
- nematodes (round worms)
- trematodes (flatworms, flukes)
- cestodes (tapeworms)
what do adult worms need before they can reproduce?
a period of development outside the body
what is the “pre-patent” period in relation to helminth disease?
the interval between infection and the appearance of eggs in the stool
how are intestinal nematodes transmitted?
faecal-oral route.
transmitted from person to person via eggs/larvae - these are only infectious after a period of development in the soil.
what organism causes pinworm/threadworm? what is the pre-patent period?
enterobius vermicularis
40d.
v common in UK!
describe the lifecycle of enterobius vermicularis (pinworm/threadworm)
- adult is resident in large bowel
- female emerges from anus at night to lay eggs on perineum
- eggs are infectious after 4hrs, ingested by next host
what are the clinical features of pinworm/threadworm?
- pruritis ani
- appendicitis
- vaginal penetration - endometriosis, salpingitis, infertility
how would you diagnose pinworm/threadworm?
microscopy of sellotape strip from perianal region
what is the general way to diagnose worms?
stool microscopy for eggs
what drug is used to treat a lot of worm infections? available in pharmacies for threadworm
Mebendazole
what causes schistosomiasis?
Schistosoma - an adult fluke. penetrate skin while swimming, mature in abdominal cavity.
what is schistosomiasis (katayama fever)? what are the clinical features?
initial immune-complex mediated illness 2-4wks after exposure.
fever; urticaria; eosinophilia; diarrhoea; hepatomegaly; splenomegaly; cough and wheeze; cachexia.
what are protozoa?
single-celled eukaryotes.
consume bacteria, algae, microfungi
what are the two main stages in the general life cycle of protozoa?
proliferative TROPHOZOITE stage - feed and reproduce.
dormant CYST stage - can survive outside host.
what are the 5 major groups that protozoa are divided into?
- flagellates
- amoebae
- cilliates
- microsporidia
- sporozoa
what are the 4 species of plasmodia that cause human disease?
P. falciparum
P. ovale
P. vivax
P. malariae
how is malaria transmitted?
bite of female Anopheles mosquitoes
how does the Anopheles mosquito become affected?
feeding from infected human. then they are infected for life (3-4wks). night-biting. bite indoors. lifecycle depends on water (to lay eggs)
describe the basic stages of the plasmodia lifecycle
in human host has exo-erythrotic cycle (in liver), and erythrotic cycle (in blood). (P ovale/vivax also have hypnozoite stage - lie dormant).
matures in RBCs.
taken up from blood into female anopheles - sporogonic cycle.
describe the pathogenesis of falciparum malaria
fatal.
parasite matures in RBCs - ‘knobs’ on RBC surface.
bind to receptors on endothelial cells in capillaries + venules.
sequestration in small vessels.
obstruction of microcirculation - tissue hypoxia.
what are the acute clinical features common to all 4 species of malaria?
FEVER.
chills and sweats; headache; myalgia; fatigue; nausea and vomiting; diarrhoea.
anaemia; jaundice; hepatosplenomegaly; ‘black water fever’
describe the clinical features of P falciparum malaria in adults
coma; ARDS; hypoglycaemia; renal failure (hypovolaemia, microvascular blockade).
SHOCK.
describe the clinical features of P falciparum malaria in children
non-specific - stop crying/playing/eating.
tachypnoea.
anaemia.
hypoglycaemia.
cerebral malaria can cause encephalopathy/coma - raised ICP, varied presentation - rule out meningitis.
how is malaria diagnosed?
thick AND thin blood films - 3 separate films at different times of day, examined under light microscopy.
how do you treat complicated falciparum malaria?
IV artesunate or IV quinine
how do you treat uncomplicated falciparum malaria?
oral riamet or oral quinine (±doxycycline)