Sketchy Micro: Brucella

Question 1

What kind of bacteria is Brucella?

Answer 1

Gram-negative rod (like the red, rectangular barn)

Question 2

The reservoir for Brucella is _______________.

Answer 2

farm animals (like the cow and pig at the forefront of this scene)

Question 3

Any question you might get on Brucella will likely discuss a patient who had recent contact with _______________.

Answer 3

farm animals (such as a veterinarian or ranchhand) or unpasteurized milk or cheese (which Sketchy wants you to remember by the bucket of spilled milk)

Question 4

Brucella is a facultative _______________.

Answer 4

intracellular bacteria

(Think of the open gate –the cow can walk in and out of the gate, just like how Brucella bacteria can walk in and out of macrophages.)

Question 5

What are the symptoms of Brucellosis?

Answer 5

• Undulating fever (like the undulating hills behind the farmer who’s touching his hot forehead)
• Hepatosplenomegaly and lymphadenopathy (like the liver spot and spleen spot on the cow)
• Osteomyelitis (like the farmer pouring fish bones into the trough)

Question 6

What is standard treatment for Brucellosis?

Answer 6

Doxycycline and rifampin

Think of the weathervane thing with the bike tire and the rifle on the farmer’s back.