Microbiology - Greenblatt - Syphilis, Pediculosis and Gonorrhea, Chlamydia Flashcards
Why are pubic lice called crabs?
Their body shape is longer than body and head lice. Presence of pubic lice warrants screening for all STIs
How do you stain for treponema?
Darkfield, no gram staining in the “poorly staining bacteria” category cannot be cultured they are too small to be seen by standard light microscopy
What is the result of immune evasion with treponema?
Low virulence but persisting symptoms that worsen over time Humans raise mostly useless antibodies against the infection T pallidum enters lymphatics ans bloodstream immediately and does not need to build up numbers for symptoms to begin
What is the infection caused by treponema palladum?
Syphilis, transmitted sexually and congenitally
What is the Argyll-Robertson pupil?
The prostitute will accomodate but not react… tertiary (neuro) syphilis
What are the stages of syphilis?
- primary chancre, 2. secondary body-wide rashes, condylomata lata (Reddish-brown papular lesions on the penis or anogenital area) and patchy alopecia, 3. latent period - 2/3 patients progress only to here 4. tertiary gummas, neurosyphilis, cardiac involvement - 1/3 of patients progress to tertiary syphilis
Neurosyphilis may includes what sequelae?
meningitis, tabes dorsalis (damage to spinal cord → impaired sensation, wide-based gait), general paresis, check for Argyll-Robertson pupil
Why is congenital syphilis dangerous?
kills 50% fetus/newborn, survivors are infected, bone deformities, interstitial keratitis, progress rapidly to symptoms of secondary&tertiary syphilis if untreated
Why are body lice (pediculus humanus) dangerous?
Can transmit typhus and relapsing fever, trench fever
What is the relationship between syphilis and HIV?
Ulcerations of syphilis facilitate HIV infection HIV immunosuppression accelerates syphilis course, and reduces efficacy of treatment
What is the treatment for syphilis?
Penicillin G IV (same for yaws and pinta which are also treponema)
How do you test for syphilis?
Syphilis serology for reagin (VDRL, RPR) is best test for disease-in-progress and for efficacy of treatment; confirm exposure with tests for treponeme-specific antibodies; histo of lesions shows infiltrate rich in plasma cells
What kind of organism is Neisseria gonorrhea?
Gram (-) diplococci oxidase + catalase +
How does gonorrhea present in males, females and neonates?
Males - urethritis Females - asymptomatic or cervicitis or PID Neonates - purulent conjunctivitis - can treat with prophylactic eye ointment
T/F: Gonorrheal infection is a marker for sexual abuse in children.
True
