Other Organisms Flashcards
A 17 year old male has an abscess on his cheek draining blood and has some yellow granular discharge as well. He has concurrent dental infection as well.
- What organism do you suspect?
- What is the treatment?
- Actinomyces (“Sulfur granules” commonly occur in the question.)
- PCN or ampicillin.
- Second line: doxy, clinda, tetracycline.
Actinomyces is associated with PID especially when this other factor is present. What is it?
Presence of an IUD.
If you suspect psittacosis, should the fever be high or low?
High, often 105 degrees
A 16 year old adolescent male lives on a poultry farm and works part time around chickens. He has developed pneumonia and splenomegaly.
- What infectious agents should be in the differential?
- What factors in his HPI would help you differentiate between the possible causative agents?
- Chlamydophila psittaci and histoplasma
- Think histoplasma if he handles droppings. Think chlamydophila he handles the birds directly.
True or False: C. pneumoniae is spread by birds.
FALSE. This one is spread between people.
Which Chlamydophila infection is more associated with bronchospasm: psittaci or pneumoniae?
Chlamydophila pneumoniae
Actinomyces
True or False: Erythromycin eye ointment given at birth can help prevent Chlamydia trachomatis.
FALSE. It only prevents gonorrhea.
True or False: Chalmydia trachomatis is associated with an external eye infection called a trachoma which can cause both cataracts and glaucoma if left untreated.
FALSE. It does not cause glaucoma. The rest is true.
Chalmydial infections can be treated with what classes of antibiotics?
Macrolides or tetracyclines
What are the characteristics of a chlamydial pneumonia?
- Staccato cough
- May be afebrile
- Age < 5 months (first 4 months of life is more common)
An infant presents with staccato cough and CXR suggestive of pneumonia. What is the likely causative organism?
Staccato cough = Chlamydia trachomatis pneumonia.
