MODULE 4 (UNIT 2) Flashcards
smith and brown’s classification is based on hemolysis on
5% sheep blood agar medium
- incomplete lysis of erythrocytes
- reduction of hemoglobin
- formation of green pigment
- '’green streptococci’’
alpha hemolysis
- complete disruption of erythrocytes
- results in clearing of blood around the bacterial growth
beta hemolysis
- absence of hemolysis
- no change seen in the medium surrounding bacterial growth
- '’indifferent streptococci’’
Gama hemolysis
- a small zone of intact erythrocytes immediately adjacent to bacterial colony
- surrounded with a zone of complete erythrocyte hemolysis
- confused with beta hemolysis
Alpha prime analysis
- discovered by rebecca lancefield in the 1930s
- based on group specific antigens [stimulates the formation of antibodies with differing specificities]
Lancefield classification
Group specific antigens which are cell wall polysaccharides or c substance
-typing with specific antiserum causing agglutination is generally done for these groups
A, B, C, F, G streptococci
Group specific antigens which are lipotheichoic
Group D streptococci and Enterococcus species
Classification based on temperature for growth particularly at 10 degrees to 45 degrees celsius
Academic or Bergey’s classification
Consist of streptococci that do not grow at both 10 degrees and 45 degrees celsius
Pyogenic group
Includes streptococci which still to grow at 10 degrees but can be recovered at temperatures up to 45 degrees celsius
Viridans group
Streptococci that grow at both 10 degrees and 45 degrees celsius
Enterococcus group
Consist of streptococci that are frequently recovered in dairy products and can grow at 10 degrees celsius but fail to grow at 45 degrees celsius
Lactic group
S. Pyogenes
- lancefield classification
- hemolysis on ship BAM
- 10 degrees celsius
- 45 degrees celsius
- alpha
- beta
- negative
- negative
S. Agalactiae
- lancefield classification
- hemolysis on ship BAM
- 10 degrees celsius
- 45 degrees celsius
- beta
- beta
- negative
- negative
S. Pneumoniae
- lancefield classification
- hemolysis on ship BAM
- 10 degrees celsius
- 45 degrees celsius
- none
- alpha
- negative
- negative
S. Mitis
S. Mutans
S. Salivarius
- lancefield classification
- hemolysis on ship BAM
- 10 degrees celsius
- 45 degrees celsius
- none
- alpha, gamma
- negative
- positive
S. Anginosus
S. Intermedius
S. Constellatus
- lancefield classification
- hemolysis on ship BAM
- 10 degrees celsius
- 45 degrees celsius
- F (A, C, G) and untypeable
- alpha, beta, gamma
- negative
- positive
S. Bovis/enquinus
-non enterococci
- lancefield classification
- hemolysis on ship BAM
- 10 degrees celsius
- 45 degrees celsius
- D
- gamma, occ. Alpha, rarely beta
- positive
- positive
Group A - Beta hemolytic streptococci (GAS): Streptococcus pyogenes
- Habitat
- Transmission
- human throat and skin
2. respiratory droplets or contact with cutaneous lesions
Group A - Beta hemolytic streptococci (GAS): Streptococcus pyogenes
PATHOGENESIS AND CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS
- most common infection caused by S. pyogenes
- may occur at any age (5 to 15 yrs)
- acute sore throat, malaise, fever, and headache
- involves the tonsillar pillars, uvula, and soft palate, which become red, swollen, and covered with a yellow White exudate.
- the cervical lymph nodes that drain this area may also become swollen and tender
- In cellulitis, the lesion is not raised, and the line between the involved and uninvolved tissue is indistinct
Pharyngitis or streptococcal sore throat
Group A - Beta hemolytic streptococci (GAS): Streptococcus pyogenes
PATHOGENESIS AND CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS
- Consists of extensive and very rapidly spreading necrosis of the skin, tissues, and fascia.
- Organism enters at the site of localized trauma or previous surgery, or via hematogenous seeding of subcutaneous muscles and soft tissue.
- Affected tissues become gangrenous, with sloughing of devitalized tissues and extensive subcutaneous tissue necrosis.
- Group A streptococci that cause necrotizing fasciitis are termed “flesh-eating bacteria”.
- Bacteria other than S pyogenes can also cause necrotizing fasciitis
Necrotizing fasciitis (streptococcal gangrene)
Group A - Beta hemolytic streptococci (GAS): Streptococcus pyogenes
PATHOGENESIS AND CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS
- Occurs in women following child birth (either by vaginal or abdominal/C section) or abortion.
- Organisms colonizing the genital tract or from an obstetrical personnel invade the upper genital tract, causing endometritis, lymphangitis, bacteremia, necrotizing fasciitis, and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome.
- Intrapartum (occuring during pregnancy) transmission of group A streptococci, may lead to severe and often fatal group A streptococcal disease in the neonate.
- Manifestations in the neonate include septicemia, jaundice, and cellulitis, or stillbirth
Puerperal fever
Group A - Beta hemolytic streptococci (GAS): Streptococcus pyogenes
PATHOGENESIS AND CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS
- May result from streptococcal infection of traumatic or surgical wounds.
- Can be rapidly fatal.
- Can also occur with skin infections, such as cellulitis and rarely pharyngitis
Bacteremia or Sepsis
Group A - Beta hemolytic streptococci (GAS): Streptococcus pygogenes
PATHOGENESIS AND CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS
Are non-suppurative sequelae that occur weeks after GAS infection in the throat and/or skin
Post Streptococcal Diseases
Group A - Beta hemolytic streptococci (GAS): Streptococcus pygoenes
PATHOGENESIS AND CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS
- Inflammation of the glomeruli of the kidneys caused by the M strains of S. pygogenes (nephritogenic).
- Begins 1 to 4 weeks after streptococcal pharyngitis or 3 to 6 weeks after skin infection; primarily a disease of childhood.
- May be initiated by deposition and accumulation of antigen–antibody complexes on the glomerular basement membrane -Signs symptoms: dark, smoky urine (due to blood and proteins) edema, hypertension, and urea nitrogen retention. -Majority recover completely while some develop chronic glomerulonephritis with kidney failure, and a few die
Acute Glomerulonephritis (AGN)
Group A - Beta hemolytic streptococci (GAS): Streptococcus pygogenes
PATHOGENESIS AND CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS
-Considered as the most serious sequela of S. pyogenes because it results in damage to heart muscle and valves.
-Occurs 1–4 weeks after S. pyogenes pharyngitis
- Is an autoimmune disease, i.e., antibodies formed against streptococcal antigens cross react with the molecules of the host that trigger inflammation and injury of tissues (of the heart, joints, CNS)
-Signs and symptoms: fever, malaise, arthritis, carditis, chorea (neurologic disorder characterized by involuntary jerky movements), and skin nodules
-Pathologic processes of S. pyogenes infection can extend to the heart. The cross-reaction between streptococcal-induced antibodies and heart proteins have a gradual destructive effect on atrioventricular valve. Scarring and deformation change the capacity of the valves to close and shine the blood properly leading to Rheumatic Heart Disease.
-Has a marked tendency to be reactivated by recurrent
streptococcal infections in contrast with nephritis.
-Occur more frequently in tropical countries and is the most important cause of heart disease in young people in developing countries.
Rheumatic fever (RF)
- Elaborated by lysogenic S. pyogenes that contain genes from temperate bacteriophage.
- Act as superantigens which stimulate monocytes and T cells. When activated, these cells proliferate and produce tumor necrosis factor, which in high quantities leads to damage of the plasma membrane of blood capillaries.
- Responsible for the manifestations of scarlet fever
Erythrogenic Toxin
is a skin test for scarlet fever that uses antitoxin to the erythrogenic toxin of Streptococcus pyogenes subcutaneously: a positive reaction is blanching of the rash in the area around the injection site.
Schultz-Charlton Test
is a skin test performed to determine an individual’s susceptibility to scarlet fever. It consists of intradermal injection of diluted scarlet fever toxin on the arm of a suspected patient. Development of a red rash with a diameter of 10 mm or greater indicates lack of immunity to the disease
Dick Test
•S. pyogenes elaborates two hemolytic exotoxins, proteins that not only lyse the membranes of erythrocytes but also damage a variety of other cell types
Streptolysins
• The “O” refers to this hemolysin being oxygen labile. It is active only in the reduced form.
•Is responsible for hemolysis on sheep blood agar (SBA) plates incubated anaerobically or subsurface hemolysis when growth occurs in cuts
(stabs) made deep into the blood agar plates
•It lyses a variety of host cells including leukocytes, platelets, as well as
RBCs.
•It is highly immunogenic, and infected individuals readily form antibodies against it known as anti-streptolysin O (ASO) which blocks hemolysis caused by streptolysin O.
•ASO combines quantitatively with streptolysin O and is measured in the Anti-streptolysin O Test
Streptolysin O (SLO)
Which virulence factor is a major virulence factor of S. pyogenes (those that lack M protein are not virulent)
M Protein
M protein is found on the bacterial cell surface associated with
fimbriae
There are more than 200 types of S. pyogenes M proteins;
- immunity to infection with GAS is related to the production or presence of (1) against M protein;
- subsequent infections may occur with different (2)
- type specific antibodies
2. M serotypes
M protein inhibits activation of the
complement pathway
A cutaway view of group A Streptococcus
The (1) consists of fimbriae composed in part of M-protein, group specific substance.
Other layers making up the cell envelope are the (2), (3),(4)
- outermost fringe
2. capsule, protein antigens, and C-carbohydrate antigens
- A polysaccharide capsule, which is composed of hyaluronic acid
- Prevents opsonized phagocytosis by neutrophils or macrophages.
- Is non-immunogenic; it is chemically similar with the hyaluronic acid in the host’s connective tissue ground substance
- Allows the bacterium to mask its antigens and remain unrecognized by its host’s immune system
Capsule
- Formerly called streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins (Spe)
- There are four antigenically distinct streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins — SpeA, SpeB, SpeC, and SpeF.
- SpeA has been most widely studied
Erythrogenic Toxin
is a test performed to determine whether an individual has had a recent infection with S. pyogenes.
Anti-Streptolysin O Test (ASTO or ASOT)
Anti-Streptolysin O Test (ASTO or ASOT)
- It involves detection and quantitation of (1) in the serum
- An abnormally high serum titer suggests either (2a) with S. pyogenes or persistently high antibody levels caused by an (2) to an earlier exposure in a hypersensitive person.
- ASTO is also related to the retro-diagnosis of (3) (to check whether rheumatic fever is caused by a previous streptococcal infection or by other etiologies)
- Anti-Streptolysin O antibodies
- recent infection; exaggerated immune response
- rheumatic fever
- Is responsible for hemolysis seen around colonies (surface hemolysis) incubated aerobically
- It is oxygen stable, lyses leukocytes, and is non-immunogenic — does not stimulate antibody production in the host
Streptolysin S (SLS)
STREPTOKINASE
- Transforms the (1) of human plasma into (2), an active proteolytic enzyme that digests fibrin and other proteins allowing bacteria to escape from blood clots.
- Its action is blocked by (3A) and (3B)
- plasminogen
- plasmin
- non-specific serum inhibitors; anti-streptokinase antibody.
[1]
- Liquefies [2] by hydrolyzing DNA which promotes spread of the pathogen into the tissues.
- Are [3] and an antibody develops after streptococcal infections (especially after skin infections)
- Streptodornase
- purulent discharges
- antigenic
[1]
•Dissolves hyaluronic acid, an important component of the
ground substance of [2].
•Aids in spreading the pathogen (3) into
the host’s tissues.
•Are [4] and antibodies produced are specific for each bacterial or tissue source.
- Hyaluronidase
- host’s connective tissue
- spreading factor
- antigenic