Other Bacterial Diseases

Question 1

Legionnaires

Answer 1

• Caused by legionella, a gram-negative, aerobic (single flagella) bacterium.
• Despite many subtypes, 90% of all legionnaires diagnoses is caused by legionell pneumophila.
• Normally found in fresh water. When found in man- made water (hot tubts, hot waters tanks, etc), legionella can only be transmitted via droplets and not contact.
• Pneumonia, fever, headache, muscle aches, coughs, and SOB. Symptoms present themselves 2-10 days after exposure.
• Treatment: Antibiotics

Question 2

Plague

Answer 2

• Caused by Yersinia Pestis, a gram-negative, faculative anaerobe, baccillus. bacterium. Can infect both man and animal.

Question 3

Bubonic Plague

Answer 3

• Caused by Yersinia Pestis, a gram-negative, faculative anaerobe, baccillus. bacterium.
• Characteristics: Painfully swollen lymph nodes.

Question 4

Pneumonic Plague

Answer 4

• Caused by Yersinia Pestis, a gram-negative, faculative anaerobe, baccillus. bacterium.
• It is rare but it causes severe disease
• Characteristics: Affects the lungs

Question 5

Septicemic

Answer 5

• Caused by Yersinia Pestis, a gram-negative, faculative anaerobe, baccillus. bacterium.
• Rarest of all three.
• It targest the blood sympoltes. If untreated, it will become life threatening since blood-bourne bacterias impact all major organs.
• Once bitten, symptoms may appear 2-5 days.
• Characteristics: Headache, fever, seizures, bleeding, difficulty breathing, low blood pressure, and organ failure.
• Treatmeant: Antibiotics at the sight of symptoms.
• Antibiotics: Streptomycin, Tetracycline, Fluorquinolones, Gentamicin, and Doxycycline.

Question 6

Anthrax

Answer 6

• Caused by Bacillus Antrhacis, a gram-poisitive, aerobic, rod-shaped, spore-forming bacterium.
• Found in the soil where it exists in endospore form.
• If spores are ingest or inhaled near a wound, the spores germinate colonize the site of entry and disseminate throughout the host causing bacteria.

Question 7

Cutaneous Anthrax

Answer 7

• Caused by Bacillus Antrhacis, a gram-poisitive, aerobic, rod-shaped, spore-forming bacterium.
• Appears as a large painliss boil with a distinct black center at the site of infection.

Question 8

Pulmonary Anthrax

Answer 8

• Caused by Bacillus Antrhacis, a gram-poisitive, aerobic, rod-shaped, spore-forming bacterium.
• Rare in humans.
• Symptoms: Fever, headache, cough, SOB

Question 9

GI Anthrax

Answer 9

• Caused by Bacillus Antrhacis, a gram-poisitive, aerobic, rod-shaped, spore-forming bacterium.
• Very rare in humans
• Food tainted with anthrax causes intestinal complications, such as sever diarrhea, vomiting, acute inflammation of the intestinal tract

Question 10

Anthrax: Random Fact

Answer 10

• Becuase of the resiliency of the spores to chlorine bleach, anthrax has been used as a bioweapon, dating as far back as 1916.
• 2001, letters w/ antrhax were mailed to government employees. 22 were infected and 5 died.

Question 11

Lyme Disease

Answer 11

• Caused by Borrelia Burgdorferi, a motile (multiple flagella), anaerobic spirochete (negative strain required) bacterium.
• Transmitted via tick bite as an infected tick will carry it in its saliva - trademark bulls-eye surrounds the bite.
• Treatment: Fever/chills, headache, muscle and join pain, fatique. Left untreated, it can lend to long-term arthritis and neurological complications.