Soil borne bacteria Flashcards
CA - Clostridium tetani
Tetanus
Tetanus bacteria
Gram positive bacteria, bacilli, endospore forming, obligate anaerobe, found in Deep layers of soil
Mode of transmission - tetanus
Soil borne
VF - tetanus
Potent Tetanospasmin neurotoxin
Sxs - tetanus
- Toxemia: spores enter anaerobic deep tissue - germination - bacteria produces neurotoxin - targets the CNS
- Head, back, neck muscle stiffness/spams
- respiratory muscles spasm —> death
Diagnosis - tetanus
Based on symptoms
Predisposing factors - tetanus
Direct contact with fomites
Prevention - tetanus
DTaP, TDaP, and Td vaccines
Treatment - tetanus
- Antibiotics
- tetanus immune globulin (TIG) [this is an antibody to toxin]
- sedation drugs
CA - gas gangrene
Clostridial myonecrosis
Bacteria of gas gangrene
Gram positive bacteria, bacilli, endospore-forming, obligate anaerobe, grow in deep tissue wound
Ischemia
Blood vessel blockage —> loss of blood supple to tissue
Necrosis
Irreversible process; death of tissue
Gangrene
Tissue death due to interrupted blood supply
VF - gas gangrene
Produces alpha toxin that moves along tissue/muscle bundles
Process of gas gangrene
Soil borne spores enter ischemic area of body ->->-> toxins released —> tissue damage
Sxs - gas gangrene
- Severe pain & swelling; pale area ->red->blackish green
- gas & fluid filled blisters often form
Diagnosis - gas gangrene
Based on symptoms, imaging tests, or culture
Predisposing factors - gas gangrene
Ischemia that is not reversed
Treatment - gas gangrene
- immediate high doses of antibiotics
- surgical removal (debridement) of necrotic tissue, amputation
- hyperbaric chamber (delivers oxygen)
Misc - gas gangrene
- progresses quickly from initial injury to necrosis within 48 hours
- common cause in wars
