Spiral bacteria Flashcards
What is the marker of primary syphilis?
Chancre
What are the markers of secondary syphilis?
Rash involving palms & soles
Lymphadenopathy
What are the markers of late-quaternary syphilis?
Cardiovascular syphilis
Neurosyphilis
What is the marker of tertiary syphilis?
Gummatous lesions
What is the hallmark of secondary syphilis rash?
Rash on the palms and soles
What is the ‘Hutchinson’s Triad’ of congenital syphilis
- Cranial nerve VIII deafness
- Corneal clouding
- Notched teeth
What are the clinical presentations of congenital syphilis?
- Rash resembling secondary syphilis
- Hutchinson’s triad
How to diagnose syphilis?
Serology or Dark Ground Illumination (DGI) on primary/secondary lesions
Can Treponema pallidum be seen on Gram stain or culture?
No
What serological tests should be done to confirm syphilis diagnosis?
- Non-specific tests - VDRL/RPR
- Specific tests - tests that use treponemal antigens (EIA, LIA, TPHA, FTA-Abs)
What is the treatment for syphilis?
Penicillin G IM
If neurosyphilis, use aqueous Penicillin G IV
What is the main virulence factor of B. recurrentis and what is its clinical presentation?
Antigenic variation causing relapsing fever
How is Borrelia spp. diagnosed?
Stained blood film
How is Borrelia spp. treated?
Doxycycline
What disease does B. burgdorferi cause?
Lyme disease
What is the hallmark of Lyme disease?
Erythema chronicum migrans (ECM)
What is Leptospirosis spp. associated with?
Rat’s urine
Weil’s disease is caused by which bacteria?
Leptospirosis spp.
How are Campylobacter spp. and Helicobacter spp. identifiable?
Gram-negative short spirals
What is the main source of transmission for C. jejuni?
Poultry faeces
What are the clinical presentations of C. jejuni infection?
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhoea
- Fever
What are the post-infectious complications caused by C. jejuni infection?
- Guillain Barre syndrome
- Reactive arthritis
How is C. jejuni infection diagnosed?
Stool culture on selective medium
Why does C. jejuni cause Guillain Barre syndrome?
C. jejuni uses molecular mimicry to express surface antigens that mimic components of human nerve tissues, leading to cross-reactivity of antibodies
How is H. pylori able to infect the gastric epithelium?
Produces urease which neutralizes stomach acid
How might we non-invasively confirm H. pylori diagnosis?
- Stool antigen test
- Urea breath test
- Serology - will continue to be positive after cure
How might we invasively confirm H. pylori diagnosis?
- Biopsy followed by
- Rapid urease test
- Culture
How to treat H. pylori infection?
Clarithromycin-containing triple therapy for 2 weeks
What are the 2 non-specific syphillis serology tests?
VDRL
RPR
What can H. pylori infection lead to?
- Peptic ulceration
- Gastric cancer
- Gastric MALT lymphoma
