Passmedicine - Infection Flashcards
What kind of bacteria is staph aureus?
Facultative anaerobe
Gram positive cocci
Catalase +ve
How do most staph aureus strains have resistance to penicillin?
Beta-lactamase production
How is resistance to methiillin usually mediated by?
Mec operon (penicillin binding protein is altered to be resistant to methicillin)
What kind of bacteria is strep pyogenes?
Gram positive
Chain forming
Lancefield group A (produces beta-haemolysis on blood agar)
Catalase negative
What superantigens can strep pyogenes release? What can this superantigen result in?
Pyogenic exotoxin A which –> scarlet fever
What kind of antibiotic is used for strep pyogenes infections?
Penicillin/macrolides
What kind of bacteria is E. coli?
Gram negative rod
Facultative anaerobe, non-sporing
What is the mechanism of action of enterotoxigenic E. coli?
Produces enterotoxin that results in a large volume fluid secretion into the gut (via cAMP activation)
What is the mechanism of action of enteropathogenic E. coli?
Binds to intestinal cells + causes structural damage –> large volume diarrhoea and fever
What kind of bacteria is c. jejuni?
Gram negative, non-sporulating
What kind of symptoms does c. jejuni infection cause?
Diffuse diarrhoea
RIF pain
What antibiotic should be given for c. jejuni infection?
Usually self-limiting so does not require antibiotics
Quinolones often rapidly effective
What kind of bacteria is H. pylori?
Gram negative, helix shaped rod, microaerophilic
Flagellated
What enzyme do h. pylori produce?
Hydrogenase which derives energy from hydrogen released by intestinal bacteria
How can h. pylori cause ulcers?
Secretes urase which breaks down gastric urea –> CO2 and ammonia –> bicarbonate which neuralises gastric acid (so stomach produces more acid)
Where does h. pylori most commonly colonate?
Gastric antrum
What patients get gastric ulcers + which patients get duodenal ulcers with h. pylori infections?
If colonises antrum - irritation leads to increased gastrin release + higher levels of gastric acid –> duodenal ulcers
More diffuse infection –> gastric acid levels lower and ulcers develop by local tissue damage from h. pylori –> gastric ulcers
How is h. pylori infection diagnosed?
Serology
What is the standard active TB therapy?
First 2 months:
rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, ethambutol
Next 4 months:
rifampicin, isoniazid
What is the treatment of latent TB?
3 months isoniazid (with pyridoxine) + rifampicin OR 6 months of isoniazid (with pyridoxine)
What is the treatment of meningeal TB?
Treat for 12 months with steroids
Who may have to undergo directly observed therapy (with 3x weekly dosing regimen) for TB?
Homeless with active TB
Patients who are likely to have poor concordance
All prisoners with active/latent TB
Visual acuity should be checked before starting what TB drug?
Ethambutol
What are features of genital herpes?
Painful genital ulceration
Urinary retention may occur
How is genital herpes managed?
Oral aciclovir
What is the management of primary attack of herpes during pregnant?
Elective c-section >28 weeks
Supressive oral aciclovir until delivery
How is transmission of herpes to a baby in a women with recurrent herpes minimised?
Treatment with suppressive therapy until delivery
NB risk of transmission to baby is low
What is EBV aka?
Herpesvirus 4
What is the most common cause of infectious mononucleosis?
EBV
Less common causes include CMV, HHV-6
What classic triad of symptoms is seen in 98% of IM patients?
Sore throat
Pyrexia
Lympadenopathy
What other features can be seen in IM?
Malaise, anorexia, headache
Palatal petechiae
Splenomegaly (may predipose to splenic rupture)
Hepatitis
Lymphocytosis
Haemolytic anaemia secondary to cold agglutins
Maculopapular, pruritic rash develops in 99% of IM patients who take ampicillin/amoxicillin
How long do symptoms of IM typically take to resolve?
2-4 weeks
How is IM diagnosed?
Heterophil antibody test (monospot)
NICE recommend this + FBC in 2nd week of illness to confirm diagnosis
How is IM managed?
Supportive - rests, avoid alcohol, simple analgesia, hydration
What must those with IM avoid?
Contact sports for 8 weeks after having glandular fever to reduce risk of splenic rupture
List the live attenuated vaccines
BCG measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) influenza (intranasal) oral rotavirus oral polio yellow fever oral typhoid
List the inactivated vaccines
rabies
hepatitis A
influenza (intramuscular)
List the toxoid vaccines (inactivated toxins)
tetanus
diphtheria
pertussis
What is a subunit vaccine?
Only part of the pathogen is used to generate an immunogenic response
What is a conjugate vaccine?
A vaccine that links the immunogenic bacterial polysaccharide outer coats to the proteins to make them more immunogenic
List some conjugate vaccines
Pneumococcus
Haemophilus
Meningococcus
List some subunit vaccines
Hep B
HPV
What does the Hep B vaccine contain?
HbsAg adsorbed onto aluminium hydroxide adjuvant
What groups are at risk from HIV?
IVDAs
Those who received a blood transfusion prior to 1991
What kind of virus is hep C?
RNA flavivirus
What is the risk of transmission of hep C during a needlestick injury?
2%
What is the risk of vertical transmission of hep C?
6%
Is breastfeeding CI in hep C positive mothers?
No
What are the features of hep C infection?
Usually asymptomatic
May experience: rise in aminotransferases/jaundice, fatigue, arthalgia
What is the investigation of choice to diagnose acute hep C infection?
HCV RNA
What is the outcome of a hep C infection?
15-45% clear it after an acute infection
55-85% go on to develop a chronic infection
Define chronic hepatitis C
Persistence of HCV RNA in the blood for 6 months
What are potential complications of chronic hep C?
Arthalgia, arthritis Sjogren's Cirrhosis Heptocellular cancer Cryoglobulinaemia (usually type II) Porphyria cutanae tarda Membranoproliferative GN
How is chronic hep C infection treated?
Depends on viral genotype (test prior)
Combination of protease inhibitors (e.g. daclatasvir + sofosbuvir or sofosbuvir + simeprevir) with or without ribavirin
What are SEs of ribavirin?
Haemolytic anaemia
Cough
Teratogenic (do not become pregnant <6m after use)
What is the best way to assess response to treatment of hep C infection?
Viral load
What types of HPV generally cause genital warts?
6 and 11
How are genital warts treated?
First line
Topical podophyllum - multiple/non-keratinised
Cryotherapy - solitary/keratinised
Second line
Imiquimod (topical cream)
What is the most common cause of oesophagitis in HIV patients?
Oesophageal candidiasis
What CD4 count is oesophagal candidiasis typically seen in?
<100
What are typical symptoms of oesophageal candidiasis?
Dysphagia
Odynophagia
How is oesophageal candidiasis treated?
Fluconazole, itraconazole
What kinds of infections can E. coli cause?
Diarrhoea
UTI
Neonatal meningitis
What are the different E. coli antigens
A - O
B - K
C - H?
A - O = lipopolysaccharide layer
B - K = capsule (usually what causes neonatal meningitis)
C - H = flagellin
What does mycoplasma pneumoniae tend to cause?
An atypical pneumonia in younger patients
What are characteristic complications associated with mycoplasma pneumonia?
Erythema multiforme Cold autoimmune haemolytic anaemia Meningoencephalitis, GBS Bullous myringitis Pericarditis/myocarditis GI - hepatitis/pancreatitis Acute GN
What are features typical of a mycoplasma pneumonia?
Prolonged + gradual onset
Flu like symptoms preceding a dry cough
What do you see on CXR in mycoplasma pneumonia?
Bilateral consolidation
What is bullous myringitis?
Painful vesicles on the tympanic membrane
How is mycoplasma pneumonia generally diagnosed?
Mycoplasma serology
also have a positive cold agglutination test
How is mycoplasma pneumonia managed?
Doxycycline or macrolide
What kind of bacteria are salmonella spp?
Aerobic, gram negative robs
Remember - these are not normally gut commensals
What bacteria causes typhoid?
Salmonella typhi
What bacteria causes paratyphoid?
Salmonella paratyphi
How is typhoid transmitted?
Faecal-oral
What are the clinical features of typhoid/paratyphoid?
Systemic upset (headache, fever, arthalgia)
Relative bradycardia
Ab pain, distension
Constipation (more common in typhoid) or diarrhoea
Rose spots on the trunk (more common in paratyphoid)
What are complications of typhoid/paratyphoid?
Osteomyelitis (esp. in sickle cell disease) GI bleed/perforation Meningitis Cholecystitis Chronic carriage
What antibiotic can be used to treat typhoid/paratyphoid?
Ciprofloxacin
What is the first line treatment of syphillis?
IM benzylpen
Alt: doxycycline
What reaction is sometimes seen after treatment of syphillis?
Jarisch-Herxheimer
(fever, tachycardia, rash after first dose)
Thought to be due to release of endotoxins following bacterial death (occurs few hours after treatment)
How is Jarisch-Herxheimer treated?
Antipyretics
Following splenectomy, what infections are patients particularly at risk of?
Pneumococcus
Haemophilus
Meningococcus
When should patients due to undergo splenectomy receive their vaccinations?
2 weeks prior to the operation
What vaccinations should those undergoing splenectomy receive?
Hib, meningitis A and C
Annual flu jab
Pneumococcal every 5 years
What antibiotic prophylaxis should those who have undergone splenectomy receive?
Penicillin V
What are indications for splenectomy?
Trauma
Spontaneous rupture, e.g. EBV
Hypersplenism - hereditary spherocytosis, elliptocytosis etc..
Malignancy - lymphoma/leukaemia
Splenic cysts, hydatid cysts, splenic abscesses
What are complications of splenectomy?
Haemorrhage
Pancreatic fistula (due to damage to pancreatic tail)
Thrombocytosis
Encapsulated bacteria infection (e.g. strep pneumoniae, Hib, Neisseria meningitidis)
What changes will occur in the body post-splenectomy?
Platelets rise
Howell-jolly bodies appear
Target cells, Pappenheimer bodies
Post-splenectomy sepsis typically occurs with what organisms?
Encapsulated organisms
What pathogen causes bronchiolitis?
RSV
What pathogen causes croup?
Parainfluenza virus
What pathogen causes the common cold?
Rhinovirus
What pathogen causes flu?
Influenza
What pathogen most commonly causes community acquired pneumonia?
Strep pneumoniae
What pathogen most commonly causes bronchiectasis exacerbations?
Hib
What pathogen causes acute epiglottitis?
Hib
What pathogen causes pneumonia, especially following flu?
Staph aureus
What organisms most commonly cause an atypical pneumonia?
Mycoplasma pneumoniae - flu symptoms –> dry cough
Legionella pneumoniae - causes dry cough, lymphopenia, deranged LFTs, hyponatraemia
What classically spreads legionella?
Air conditioning systems
What is a common cause of pneumonia in HIV patients?
PJP
What are typical features of a PJP pneumonia?
Few chest signs, exertional SoB
What are typical features of pulmonary TB?
Cough
Night sweats
Weight loss
What is meant by a ‘notifiable disease’?
Disease that the proper officer at the local health protection team needs to be notified about
What are notable exceptions to notifiable diseases?
HIV
List 5 notifiable diseases
Acute encephalitis Acute infectious hepatitis Acute meningitis Acute poliomyelitis Anthrax Botulism Brucellosis Cholera Diphtheria Enteric fever (typhoid or paratyphoid fever) Food poisoning Haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) Infectious bloody diarrhoea Invasive group A streptococcal disease Legionnaires Disease Leprosy Malaria Measles Meningococcal septicaemia Mumps Plague Rabies Rubella SARS Scarlet fever Smallpox Tetanus Tuberculosis Typhus Viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) Whooping cough Yellow fever
What kind of virus is CMV?
Herpes virus
It is thought that ___% of people have been exposed to CMV virus, but it only causes disease in those who are…
50%
Immunocompromised, e.g. HIV/following organ transplant
What do cells infected with CMV look like?
Owl’s eye appearance due to intranuclear inclusion bodies
What are features of congenital CMV infection?
Growth retardation Pinpoint petechial blueberry muffin skin lesions Microencephaly Sensorineural deafness Encephalitis (seizures) Hepatosplenomegaly
Who does CMV retinitis tend to develop in?
HIV patients with a low CD4 (<50)
How does CMV retinitis present?
Visual impairment, e.g. b blurred vision
What do you see on fundoscopy in CMV retinitis?
Multiple retinal haemorrhages and necrosis - pizza retina
What is the treatment of choice for CMV retinitis?
IV ganciclovir
What organism causes chancroid?
Haemophilus ducreyi
What are features of chancroid?
Painful genital ulcers (with sharply defined, ragged, undetermined border)
Unilateral, painful inguinal LN enlargement
What causes lymphogranuloma venereum?
Chlamydia trachomatis
What are the three stages of lymphogranuloma venereum?
1 - small painless pustule which later forms an ulcer
2 - painful inguinal lympadenopathy
3 - proctocolitis
How is LVG treated?
Doxycycline
What organisms typically cause cellulitis?
Strep pyogenes
Staph aureus
What are features of cellulitis?
Erythema, pain, swelling
Systemic upset, e.g. fever
Commonly occurs on shins
What classification is used to guide how we manage patients with cellulitis?
Eron
Eron I
No signs of systemic toxicity
No uncontrolled co-morbs
Eron II
Systemically unwell
Systemically well with co-morb
Eron III
Significant systemic upset, e.g. acute confusion, tachycardia, tachynoea, hypotension or unstable co-morbs
Eron IV
Sepsis or severe life-threatening infection, e.g. necrotizing fasciitis
What patients with cellulitis should be admitted for IV antibiotics?
Eron III or IV
Severe/rapidly deteriorating cellulitis, e.g. large areas of skin
Very young (<1y) or frail
Immunocompromised
Has significant lymphoedema
Has facial cellulitis/periorbital cellulitis
How are Eron II patients managed?
Can be treated with IV antibiotics in the community
How are all other patients (Eron I) with cellulitis managed?
Oral antibiotics
Flucloxacillin 1st line (clarithromycin, erythromycin (in pregnancy), doxcycline if penicillin allergic)
What antibiotic should be given to those with severe cellulitis?
Co-amoxiclav, cefuroxime, clindamycin, ceftriaxone
When is trimethoprim a risk for teratogenicity?
First trimester
What patients should be screened for MRSA?
All patients awaiting elective admissions
Emergency admission
How should a patient be screened for MRSA?
Nasal swab and skin lesions/wounds
Wipe inside rim of nose for 5 seconds
How is MRSA supressed from a carrier once identified?
Nose - mupirocin 2% in white soft paraffin tds for 5 days
Skin - chlorhexidine gluconate od 5 days (apply all over)
What antibiotics can be used to treat MRSA infections?
Vancomycin
Teicoplanin
Linezolid (reserve for resistant cases)
What organisms can cause community acquired pneumonia?
Strep pneumoniae
H. influenzae
Staph aureus
Viruses
What organism classically causes pneumonia in alcoholics?
Klebsiella pneumoniae
What are the characteristic features of a pneumococcal pneumoniae?
Rapid onset
High fever
Pleuritic chest pain
Herpes labialis
What causes kaposi’s sarcoma?
HHV-8
How does kaposi sarcoma present?
Purple papules/plaques on skin or mucosa which may ulcerate
Respiratory involvement may –> massive haemoptysis + pleural effusion
How is kaposi sarcoma treated?
Radiotherapy + resection
What causes amoebiasis?
Entamoeba histolytica
What kinds of syndromes can amoebiasis lead to?
Amoebic dysentry
Amoebic liver abscess
How is amoebic dysentry treated?
Metronidazole
What is an amoebic liver abscess classically like?
Single mass in right lobe filled with ‘anchovy sauce’
What are clinical features of an amoebic liver abscess?
Fever
RUQ pain
Give examples of tetracyclines
Doxycyline
Tetracycline
What is the mechanism of action of tetracyclines?
Protein synthesis inhibitors
What is the commonest mechanisms of resistance against tetracyclines?
Increased efflux of the bacteria by plasmid-encoded transport pumps, ribosomal protection
What are indications for tetracycline use?
Acne vulgaris
Lyme disease
Chlamydia
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
What are notable AEs associated with tetracyclines?
Discolouration of teeth - do not use before age 12
Photosensitivity
Anigioedema
Black hairy tongue
What are important CIs to the use of tetracyclines?
Pregnancy + breastfeeding due to discolouration of the neonates teeth
What malignancies are associated with EBV?
Burkitt’s lymphoma
Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma
HIV-associated central nervous system lymphomas
What non-malignant condition is EBV associted with?
Hairy leukoplakia
What is leprosy?
Granulomatous disease primarily affecting the peripheral nerves and skin
What causes leprosy?
Mycobacterium leprae
What are the clinical features of leprosy?
Patches of hypopigmented skin typically affecting the buttocks, face, extensor surfaces of limbs
Sensory loss
What determines the type of leprosy a patient gets?
Low degree of cell mediated immunity –> lepromatous leprosy = extensive skin involvement, symmetrical nerve involvement
High degree of cell mediated immunity –> tuberculoid leprosy = limited skin disease, asymmetric nerve involvement
How is leprosy managed?
Triple therapy - rifampicin, dapsone, clofazimine
Gram positive cocci =
Staph, strep
Gram negative cocci =
Neisseria meningitis/gonorrhoeae
Moraxella catarrhalis
Gram positive bacilli =
ABCD L Actinomyces Bacillus anthracis Clostridium Diphtheria Listeria monocytogenes
Gram negative rods =
E. coli H. influenzae Pseudomonas aeruginosa Salmonella spp. Shigella spp. C. jejuni
What diseases does parovirus B19 cause?
Erythema infectiosum (slapped cheek syndrome)
How does slapped cheek syndrome present?
Mild feverish illness +/- bright, red rash over the cheeks
Child feels better as rash appears
How long does the rash in slapped cheek syndrome tend to take to go away?
Usually peaks after a week and then fades
BUT for some months after, a warm bath, sunlight, heat/fever may trigger its recurrence
How is slapped cheek managed?
Usually self-limiting
Is school exclusion with slapped cheeky req?
No as once the rash appears the child is no longer infectious
In adults what can parovirus B19 cause?
An acute arthritis
What is the most important thing to remember about parovirus B19?
Can affect unborn baby in first 20 weeks
If women exposed before 20 weeks must have IgM and IgG checked
When is someone with parovirus B19 infectious?
3-5 days before the rash appears
How might parovirus B19 infection present in immunocompromised patients?
Pancytopenia
How might parovirus B19 infection present in sickle cell patients?
Aplastic crises (parovirus B19 supresses erythropoiesis for about a week)
What are the two types of necrotizing fasciitis?
1 - caused by mixed anaerobes + aerobes (often occurs post-surgery in DM) - most common
2 - strep pyogenes most common cause
What are the clinical features of necrotizing fasciitis?
Acute onset
Painful, erythematous lesion develops
Often presents as rapidly worsening cellulitis with pain out of keeping with physical features
Extremely tender over underlying tissue