Plague

Question 1

What causes the plague?

Answer 1

Yersinia pestis

G-ve short bacilli with bipolar staining

Question 2

What are the different plague syndromes and how are they transmitted?

Answer 2

Septicaemic- ingestion of infected meat
Pneumonic- inhalation
Bubonic- contact with dead animals/scratch from one. Bite from oriental rat flea

Question 3

What are the features of septicaemic plague?

Answer 3

Black gangrenous tissue

DIC-> bleeding

Question 4

What are the features of pneumonic plague?

Answer 4

SOB/cough/haemoptysis

Question 5

What are the features of bubonic plague?

Answer 5

Swollen LNs to painful buboes
Fever
D&V
Can become septic

Question 6

How do you diagnose yersinia pestis?

Answer 6

MC+S

RDT for F1 antigen

Question 7

How do you treat the plague?

Answer 7

Doxy/ cipro/ gent/ streptomycin

Tx exposed

Question 8

How do you prevent the plague?

Answer 8

Identify source
Surveillance incl test animals
Eliminate vector with permethrin then rats
Education 
Vaccinate HCWs

Question 9

Where are the epicentres for the plague?

Answer 9

DRC, Madagascar, Peru

Question 10

How do you manage a plague outbreak?

Answer 10

Find and stop source of infection
Protect heal workers with PPE and education
Ensure correct treatment
Isolate those with pneumonic plague
Surveillance and chemoprophylaxis
Obtain specimens
Disinfection
Safe burial practices