Module 11: Streptococcus Flashcards
What is the clinical significance of Aerococcus viridans?
Opportunistic organism, rarely causes infections
Does Steptococcus ferment carbohydrates?
Yes and primarily produces lactic acid
Name some examples of Strep species for each Lancefield group
A - S. pyogenes
B. S. agalactiae
C. S. equisimilis
D. Enterococcus: E. faecalis, E. facium Non-Enterococcus: S. euinus, S. bovis
What are some streps that do not have a Lancefield grouping?
S. pneumoniae, S. viridans, S. anginosus/milleri
What do S. anginosus/milleri colonies look like?
Small/pinpoint
Alpha, beta, or gamma
What is a nutritionally variant Streptococcus?
Group with S. viridans but differ in that a thiol compound (cystine) or vitamin B (pyridoxal) is required for growth
What does most strep look like in a gram? What species is different and what does it look like?
Mostly gram positive cocci in chains, may be oval
S. pneumoniae is different, usually in pairs, elongated “lancet” shapes
How do most strep (A, B, C, F, G) colonies look?
Small-large colonies, gray, opaque or translucent, buttery, beta hemolysis (usually)
What are the growth requirements for most strep?
Mostly facultative, may grow better anaerobically, usually increased CO2 is not necessary
35 degrees
Blood or serum enrichment usually required for good growth
What causes hemolysis on blood plates?
Streptolysin S and/or Streptolysin O
What is Streptolysin S?
Produces beta hemolysis
Oxygen stable, acid labile - if agar has fermentable carbohydrates acid is produced and Steptolysin S may be destroyed
What is Steptolysin O?
Produces beta hemolysis
Oxygen labile, acid labile - exposure to oxygen and acid from carbohydrate fermentation may destroy Streptolysin O
What are the genus tests for Streptococcus?
Catalase - negative
Nitrate reduction - negative (red after zinc salts)
What are 2 tests that can give a presumptive ID for GAS?
Bacitracin susceptibility and PYR positive
What are the 2 tests that can give a definitive ID of GAS?
Latex/co-agglutination tests for specific cell-wall antigen (carbohydrate residue) and GAS-D, DNA probe
How does the GAS DNA probe work?
Bacteria is lysed off the original swab and the DNA is amplified, usually takes 4 hours
What are some advantages of GAS DNA probes?
The bacteria do not have to be living, a large number of tests can be done a day, and is it much faster than growing the organism up
What is the susceptibility of GAS?
Universally susceptible to penicillin
If a patient is allergic erythromycin and tetracycline are considered
Susceptibility not routinely done
What are the 4 major infections GAS causes?
- Upper respiratory (strept throat)
- Cutaneous
- Invasive infections
- Post-streptococcal disease
What infection does GAS cause in the upper respiratory tract? What are some symptoms and complications?
Acute pharyngitis and strept throat
Symptoms - sudden sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, fever, headache
Complications - ear and sinus infections, meningitis (rare)
What can acute pharyngitis develop into?
Scarlet fever if the strain of GAS produces a pyrogenic exotoxin
Causes a rash on upper chest which spreads, and strawberry/beefy tongue
What does GAS cause with cutaneous infections?
Pustular lesions, impetigo, eysipelas (strep infection in dermis, red and thick skin)
Usually disseminate into bacteremia/septicemia (invasive infection)
What does GAS cause with invasive infections?
Pneumonia, flesh eating disease/necrotizing fascitis
May be called Streptococcal toxic shock, fulminant group A infection, or invasive GAS disease
What are common symptoms of flesh eating disease?
Cellulitis w/ pain, fever, septic shock, decreased blood pressure, respiratory distress, renal dysfunction, liver dysfunction
30-50% mortality
What are the 2 post-streptococcal diseases?
Rheumatic fever and acute glomerulonephtitis
What is rheumatic fever?
Caused by GAS with specific M antigens which are similar to myosin in the heart
Anti-streptococcal antibodies attach to heart muscle causing inflammation and scarring of the valves
May require replacement of valves
What is acute glomerulonephritis?
Antigen-antibody complexes are deposited on the kidney glomerular membranes, activating complement, resulting in membrane damage which allows blood and protein to enter the urine
May follow pharyngitis or cutaneous infection
What lab test can determine possible post-streptococcal disease?
Test for antibodies, most frequently Anti-Streptolysin O (ASO)
High level = recent infection and possible post-streptococcal disease
How many people may carry GAS in their respiratory tract without infection?
5-15%
What tests can be used for presumptive ID of GBS?
Positive CAMP and positive hippurate hydrolysis
What is the test that can definitively ID GBS?
Latex or co-agglutinaton test to detect specific group B antigens
What bacteria may give a false positive with GBS latex typing? How can it be determined if the organism is GBS or not?
Listeria monocytogenes
Gram stain - GBS are GPC, Listeria are GPB
How does GBS affect neonates?
Can cause serious general infection, neonatal sepsis (rapid or late onset)
Most common cause of neonatal sepsis and death
What is rapid onset of GBS sepsis in neonates?
Infection occurs in utero or during birth from a colonized vagina
Usually born critically ill with respiratory distress, sepsis, and meningitis
High mortality rate
What is late onset of GBS sepsis in neonates?
Occurs weeks after birth (average = 4 weeks)
Meningitis is usual
Lower mortality
What can GBS cause in adults?
Eye, ear, upper respiratory tract, surgical incision, and other body infections
Usually opportunistic and may colonize without infection, commonly in the vagina/rectum (Noraml in feces)
What do GDS colonies look like?
Small-large, gray, buttery, usually non-hemolytic
May grow on MAC without crystal violet (small, deep pink)
What genus test may have a false positive against GDS?
Enterococcus may be catalase pseudopositive
What tests can be used to identify GDS?
Positive BEA (Bile esculin), PYR, 6.5% sodium chloride, and latex/co-agglutination
What type of GDS is PYR positive?
Enterococcus (ex: faecalis, faecium)
What type of GDS is 6.5% sodium chloride positive?
Enterococcus will grow (ex: faecalis, faecium)
What is the pathogenicity of GDS Enterococcus?
Normal fecal and intestinal flora
Commonly urinary tract, wound, and miscellaneous infections
E. faecium is important nosocomial pathogen due to vancomycin resistance
E. faecalis is the most common isolate
What is the pathogenicity of GDS Non-Enterococcus?
S. bovis is the most common isolate
Presence in blood cultures is associated with GI carcinoma/neoplasm
What is the susceptibility of GDS Enterococcus?
Sometimes resistant to low dose penicillin and ampicillin (good for UTI, concentrates in urine) Serious infections (endocarditis) treated with aminoglycoside and penicillin combo Aminoglycoside resistance emerging
What is the susceptibility of GDS Non-Enterococcus?
S. bovis susceptible to penicillin, combination therapy usually used
What is the susceptibility of GBS?
Susceptible to penicillin (G or amp)
Ampicillin and gentamicin combo sometimes used
Erythromycin and vancomycin are alternatives for penicillin allergies
What is the significance of GCS and GFS?
Animal pathogens
May cause pharyngitis, pneumonia, septicemia, meningitis, and others
What is the significance of GGS?
Animal pathogens
May cause pharyngitis, otitis media, neonate sepsis, endocarditis, and meningitis
What is VRE?
Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus Important nosocomial pathogen Usually resistant to all antibiotics Mostly affects immunocompromised, may colonize others Normal gut flora Usually E. faecium
How is VRE screened for?
Rectal swabs on agar containing vancomycin (agar dilution, 6ug/mL)
Growth in 72 hours = VRE if identified as Enterococcus