PSEUDOMONAS AND OTHER NON-FERMENTING GRAM-NEGATIVE BACILLI

Question 1

most common non-fermenter; gram-negative, motile rods with a single flagella (monotricous)

Answer 1

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Question 2

Culture characteristics of P. aeruginosa:

Answer 2

-Beta-hemolytic
- Obligate aerobe

Question 3

Characteristic odor of P. aeruginosa:

Answer 3

Sweet or grape-like or corn taco-like odor

Question 4

Pigments produced by P. aeruginosa:

Answer 4

1. Pyocyanin - Blueish
2. Fluorescein - Yellow
3. Ptoverdin - Green
4. Pyorubin - Red
5. Pyomelanin - Black

Question 5

Transmission of P. aeruginosa:

Answer 5

• water aerosols
• raw vegetables
• flowers

Question 6

Infections caused by P. aeruginosa:

Answer 6

• Nosocomial infections (most common)
• Infection in burn sites, wounds, urinary tract (gives rise to BLUE-GREEN PUS)
• Meningitis
• Chronic pneumonia in cystic fibrosis patients
• Mild otitis external in swimmers (“swimmer’s ear”)
• Eye infection after surgical procedures
• Fatal sepsis; hemorrhagic necrosis (lesions = ECTHYMA GANGRENOSUM)
• “Hot tub folliculitis”
• Osteomyelitis

Question 7

Toxins produced in P. aeruginosa:

Answer 7

Endotoxin (LPS) - causes fever, shock
Exotoxin A - inactivates elongation factor

Question 8

Bacteria associated with cystic fibrosis:

Answer 8

1. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
2. Burkholderia cepacia

Question 9

Patients with cystic fibrosis and _________ are particularly vulnerable to infection.

Answer 9

Granulomatous disease

Question 10

Causative agent of Glander’s disease:

Answer 10

B. mallei

Question 11

Agent of melioidosis (or whitmore disease aka “Vietnamese time bomb”)

Answer 11

B. pseudomallei

Question 12

Characteristic odor of Alcaligenes fecalis:

Answer 12

“fruity odor resembling apples/strawberries”