S1B5 - Microbiology Mneumonics/Picmonics

Question 1

Which different infections are commonly caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae?

Answer 1

S. pneumoniae causes C-MOPS

• Conjunctivitis, with patients presenting with redness and discharge in one eye
• Meningitis, with patients presenting with fever, chills, headache and neck stiffness
• Otitis media, with patients presenting with ear pain
• Pneumonia (community-acquired lobar), with patients presenting with fever, chills, cough, and chest pain
• Sinusitis, with patients presenting with fever, purulent nasal discharge, and sinus tenderness

Question 2

What are 3 organisms that contain IgA protease?

Answer 2

Other organisms that contain IgA protease can be remembered by the mnemonic SHiN

• S. pneumoniae
• H. influenzae type B
• Neisseria

Question 3

What are the catalase positive bacteria?

Answer 3

Examples of catalase-positive organisms (not all) can be remembered by the mnemonic Cats Need PLACESS to hide

• Nocardia
• Pseudomonas
• Listeria
• Aspergillus
• Candida
• E. coli
• Staphylococci
• Serratia
• Burkholderia cepacia

Question 4

What are the urease positive bacteria?

Answer 4

Urease-positive organisms can be remembered by the mnemonic “CHuck Norris hates PUNKSS”

• Cryptococcus
• H. pylori
• Proteus
• Ureaplasma
• Nocardia
• Klebsiella
• S. epidermidis
• S. saprophyticus

Question 5

What are the obligate anaerobic bacteria?

Answer 5

Examples can be remembered by the mnemonic “Anaerobes Frankly Can’t Breathe Air”

• Fusobacterium
• Clostridium
• Bacteroides
• Actinomyces

Question 6

What are the obligate aerobes?

Answer 6

Examples include Nagging Pests Must Breathe:

• Nocardia
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• Mycobacterium tuberculosis
• Bordetella pertussis

Question 7

What are the gram negative bacilli obligate aerobes?

Answer 7

Gram-negative bacilli – obligate aerobes include:

• Coxiella burnetti
• Bordetella pertussis
• Brucella sp.
• Francisella tularensis
• Legionella pneumophila
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Mnemonic: Gram negative rods Cause Bovine Farmers Lots of Painful whooping cough.

Question 8

What are the encapsulated bacteria?

Answer 8

Encapsulated bacteria: SHiNE SKiS

• S. pneumoniae
• H. influenzae
• Neisseria meningitidis
• E. coli
• Salmonella
• Klebsiella pneumoniae
• group B Strep

Question 9

What are the infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (A mnemonic may be helpful here)?

Answer 9

P. aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that can cause infections that can be remembered with the mnemonic PSEUDO MESH:

• Pneumonia (especially in Cystic Fibrosis and intubated patients)
• Sepsis
• External otitis
• UTI
• Diabetic/IV drug Osteomyelitis
• Malignant otitis externa in diabetes
• Ecthyma gangrenosum (rapidly progressive, necrotic cutaneous lesion) in immunocompromised patients
• Skin infections in burn patients and those with extensive wounds
• Hot tub folliculitis