Module 2 Flashcards
What is the most common human pathogen?
H. influenzae
What is the cellular morphology of Haemophilus?
Pleomorphic
Gram negative
Coccobacilli
Pale staining
What due gives a darker stain with Haemophilus?
Carbon fuchsin
What are the growth requirements for Haemophilus?
Facultative (better growth with oxygen)
Increased CO2 enhances growth
35°C
Moist environment required
What growth factors does Haemophilus require?
X factor- synthesis of iron containing respiratory enzymes, hemin or protoporphyrin, heat stable
V factor- NAD, heat labile
What supplies factors X and V?
X- Hb, whole or lysed blood cells
V- lysed RBCs, other bacteria
What media can be used to grow Haemophilus?
Blood agar with Staph streak- clear, wet, glistening, nonhemolytic colonies
Chocolate agar- small, raised, grey, translucent colonies
Why can’t blood agar alone be used for Haemophilus growth?
NADase in RBCs inactivates NAD
Factor V may also be trapped in the cells
Why may you see Haemophilus growth in anaerobic blood cultures first?
Can grow anaerobically without V factor
What is required for Haemophilus genus ID?
Gram stain
BAP with Staph streak
BAP
Chocolate agar
What tests are used for Haemophilus genus ID?
Oxidase- negative with dimethyl reagent
Catalase- positive
No hemolysis (couple exceptions)
Commercial strips with growth factors- growth around required factors
Porphyrin (ALA)- determines whether an organism can synthesize X factor from ALA
Commercial ID kits- biochem and enzymatic test
Serological ID- slide agglutination for different capsular antigens
What is the reagent for the porphryin (ALA)?
Buffered delta-aminolevulenic acid
How is porphryin detected?
UV light- observation under Wood’s UV lamp shows red-pink fluorescence
Kovac’s reagent- added, colour change to red
What is the QC for the porphryin test?
Positive- H. parainfluenzae
Negative- H. influenzae and most other bacteria
What is the most virulent strain of capsulated Haemophilus?
B