Microflora Flashcards

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1
Q

What are some Gram-positive bacteria found on the skin?

A
  • Coagulase -ve Staphylococcus (i.e. Staphylococcus epidermidis)
  • Staphylococcus aureus (the only coagulase +ve Staph. = pathogenic)
  • various species of Streptococcus
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2
Q

What are some Gram-negative bacteria that is found on the skin?

A
  • Acinetobacter
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3
Q

What are some fungi found on the skin?

A
  • Candida
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4
Q

What are some normal flora found in the nose?

A
  • Staphylococcus aureus

- Staphylococcus epidermidis

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5
Q

What are some normal flora found in the nasopharynx?

A
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae

- Neisseria meningitidis

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6
Q

What are some normal flora found in the oropharynx?

A

various Streptococci

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7
Q

What causes infection in the lower repiratory tract?

A
  • the larynx, trachea, bronchioles, lower airways are sterile
  • transient colonisation with secretions from the upper respiratory tract (S. aureus, S. pneumoniae, etc.)
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8
Q

Opportunistic pathogen of the GI tract?

A
  • Clostridium difficle is usually found within the GI tract, but if GI tract is disrupted by antibiotics, an opportunity is provided for C. difficle to transiently colonise
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9
Q

What can cause infection of the esophagus?

A
  • Candida spp.
  • viruses (Herpes simplex virus, etc.)
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10
Q

What is normal flora of the stomach?

A
  • acid-tolerant bacteria

: lactic acid-producing bacteria (Lactobacillus & Streptococcus spp.)

: Helicobacter pylori

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11
Q

What are some normal flora of the small intestine?

A
  • mostly anaerobes
  • Salmonella & Campylobacter spp. (common cause of gastroenteritis)
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12
Q

What are some normal flora of the large intestine?

A
  • mostly anaerobic
  • most common

: Bifidobacterium

: Eubacterium

: Bacteroides

: Enterococcus

: Enterobacteriaceae

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13
Q

What are pathogens that cause urethritis?

A
  • Neisseria gonorrhoea
  • Chlamydia trachomitis
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14
Q

What is some microflora of the vagina?

A

Candida albicans

: overgrowth causes disease

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15
Q

What are some factors that increase susceptibility to infections?

A
  • age (i.e. elderly/children)
  • defects in immune response
  • pre-existing medicial conditions (i.e. diabetes)
  • immunosupression
  • malnutrition
  • transplantation (immunosupression)
  • preosthetics
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16
Q

What does Clostridium tetani, Clostridium botulinum & Clostridium difficile cause?

A
  1. Clostridium tentani: tetanus
  2. Clostridium botulinum: food poisoning
  3. Clostridium difficile: colitis & diarrhoea
17
Q

Define normal flora

A
  • microorganisms that live on other living organisms / inanimate objects without causing disease
  • able to cause disease if exposed in unusual locations or to immunocompromised persons
18
Q

Resident flora vs Transient flora

A

Resident flora: usuallu occupy a particular body site

Transient flora: are not established permanently on/in people

19
Q

What is the importance of normal flora?

A
  • aid in breaking down food
  • provides growth factors
  • protects against some infections
  • stimulates immune response
20
Q

What is the importance of understanding normal flora?

A
  • can give an idea of possible infections that can arise from injury at a site
  • give an idea of possible sources of infection
  • provide understanding of a host’s immune response
21
Q

What is an example of normal flora within the oral cavity & what infection/disease does it cause

A

Streptoccocus mutans can cause dental decay

22
Q

Define Nosocomial Infection & give examples

A

infection that occurs with prolonged or frequent hospital stay e.g.

  • VANIs (Ventilator Associated Nosocomial Infections)
  • NUTIs (Nosocomial Urinary Tract Infections)
  • NRTIs (Nosocomial Respiratory Tract Infections)
  • HAIs (Hospital Acquired Infections)
23
Q

What should normal flora of the skin be resistant to?

A
  • acidic pH
  • periodic drying
  • high NaCl concentration (from sweat)
  • other inhibitory substances