Skinny bacteria III Flashcards
Drum stick appearing rods =?
Clostridium
What is the gram stain and morph of clostridium? Aerobic? Spores?
Gram positive, spore forming rods
Anaerobic
Where is clostridium found?
Soil, water, sewage
What are the three species and toxins of clostridium that cause disease?
C. perfringens (hemolysin)
C. difficile (enterotoxins)
C tetani (Neural toxins)
Growth of C perfringens produces a lot of what?
CO2 and H gas
What skin infection does C perfringens cause?
Gas Gangrene
What is the most important toxin associated with C perfringens? What is its function?
Alpha toxin
Phospholipase destroys cell membrane
Why will you not see leukocytes in the area surrounding C perfringins?
Alpha toxin kills them
What are the four skin diseases that C perfringens usually causes?
- Cellulitis
- Fasciitis
- Suppurative myositis
- Myonecrosis
What are the reservoirs of Clostridium?
Soil, or GI tract
Why is it called GAS (not group A strep) gangrene?
C. perfringens produces CO2, so there are crepitations of the wound
What are the symptoms of gas gangrene?
Cellulitis initially, later supprative myositis
Gas on x-ray = ?
Gas gangrene
How do you diagnose gas gangrene?
Microsopic deteaction of rods WITHOUT leukocytes
What is the treatment for gas gangrene?
Surgical debridment and high dose PCN
What is the MOA of C. tetani infection from a rusty nail?
Small local infection allow for anaerobic growth of C tetani, producing exotoxin
What is the MOA of tetanospasmin?
Inhibition of interneurons
Is tetanospasmin heat liable?
Yes
What are the symptoms of tetanus?
Spastic paralysis
True or false: Tetanospasmin is readily degraded by the GI tract?
yes
What is the most common site of infection for tetanus?
Umbilical stump of noenates
What is the risus sardonicus?
Tetanus infection smile
Why is it hard to culture tetanus?
Anaerobic bacteria
How do you diagnose tetanus?
Clinical presentation
What population is usually infected with tetanus in the U.S.?
Old people
What is the treatment for tetanus?
Debride the wound
Human IgG/antitoxin
Metronidazole
What is the gram stain and morphology of mycobacterium? Anaerobic? Spores?
Weakly gram positive
Acid fast
Aerobic
No spores
What is the lipid found in mycobacterium that allows them to be stained with the acid fast stain?
Mycolic acid
Lipoarabinomanan
True or false: mycobacterium are resistant to lots of stuffs
True
How fast do mycobacterium grow?
Super slow
What are the two major mycobacteria that cause disease?
Myobacterium TB
M. Leprae
Are there endotoxins or exotoxins with mycobacterium?
No