NON-SPORE FORMING GRAM POSITIVE BACILLI Flashcards
• The genus Corynebacterium is a large diverse group of bacteria.
• There are more than___\ species in the genus, and at least____ are thought to be clinically significant.
80
50
Corynebacterium
• Corynebacteria can be divided into
non-lipophilic and lipophilic species
Fastidious, and slow growing
Requires exogenous lipids for enhanced growth
LIPOPHILIC
Non-fastidious organisms
Does not require exogenous source of fats
NON-LIPOPHILIC
Causative agent of diphtheria
CORYNEBACTERIUM DIPHTHERIAE
also known as Klebs-Loeffler Bacillus
Corynebacterium diphtheriae
non-motile, glucose & maltose fermenter
• nitrate reduction & catalase (+)
• urease -)
CORYNEBACTERIUM DIPHTHERIAE
DISEASE ASSOCIATION (Corynebacterium diphtheriae)
RESPIRATORY DIPHTHERIA
CUTANEOUS DIPHTHERIA
• Severe form of infection
This is the most severe form of infection caused by C. diphtheriae
• Exotoxin attacks mucus membranes resulting to inflammation and “pseudomembrane formation” of the pharynx
Respiratory diphtheria
• Characterized by neck swelling (Bull’s neck)
Respiratory diphtheria
• Necrotic lesions on the skin which are manifested on open wounds.
CUTANEOUS DIPHTHERIA
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS (Corynebacterium diphtheriae)
________
It is the drug of choice for C. diphtheriae since penicillin is a beta lactam
drug that affects/destroys/alters cell wall synthesis of the bacteria.
_______for Penicillin - sensitive individuals
PENICILLIN
ERYTHROMYCIN
LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS (Corynebacterium diphtheriae)
•_______ swabs of inflamed areas — Most commonly or routinely used sample in the laboratory.
•____ or ____ spx (cutaneous diphtheria)
Nasopharyngeal
Wound or skin
Stains (C diphtheriae)
• Appearance of pleomorphic appearance, with metachromatic granules (Babe’s Ernst - polymerized phosphates)
Gram staining and loeffler’s methylene blue stain
- visualized by Loeffler’s methylene blue
• On Gram stain, Corynebacterium are slightly curved, gram-positive rods producing the described ….
Chinese characters
club shape or coryneform or Chinese characters.
• Toxigenicity test for C. diphtheriae strains that are non-toxigenic
• The culture medium used here is Nutrient Agar that is melted and is mixed with a horse serum.
Elek test
• After incubation, we could observe precipitant lines with different strains
In-vivo testing: injection of C. diphtheriae animal (direct inoculation)
In-vitro testing - modified
Elek test
CULTURE (Corynebacterium diphtheriae)
SBA: Small zone of…
______ (enhances metachromatic granule formation) or_____
•_______ - Gray to black colonies
ß - hemolysis
Loeffler’s serum/ Pai agar
Potassium Tellurite medium