Spore-forming Gram Positive Bacilli Flashcards
Other name for inhalation anthrax
Woolsorter’s disease
What is the causative agent of anthrax?
Bacillus anthracis
What is the virulence factor of bacillus anthracis?
glutamic acid
anthrax toxin
Other name of bacillus anthracis?
Anthrax bacillus
It is common disease of livestock
Anthrax
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What are the four forms of anthrax seen in human?
cutaneous anthrax
injectional anthrax
gastrointestinal anthrax
inhalation anthrax
Occurs when wounds are contaminated with spores acquired through skin cuts, abrasions, or insect bites
Cutaneous anthrax
It starts as a small pimple or papule at the site of inoculation 2-3 days after exposure
Cutaneous anthrax
Symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, anorexia, and vomiting
Gastrointestinal anthrax
The lesion of cutaneous anthrax is also known as
Malignant pustule
An erythematous ring develops, and a small dark area appears in the center of the ring and eventually ulcerates and dries
Eschar or black eschar
First recognized in scotland during an outbreak in 2009-2010 (heroin use)
Injectional anthrax
The fatality rate is higher than cutaneous anthrax
Gastrointestinal anthrax
The mild form of the disease last 2-3 days, which is followed by a sudden severe phase characterized by respiratory problems followed by disorientation, coma, and death
Inhalation anthrax
Ingestion of spores
Gastrointestinal anthrax
2-5 days after exposure, patient may manifest with mild fever, fatigue, and malaise (resembles flu)
Inhalation anthrax
A new form characterized by a soft tissue infection associated with injection of drugs of abuse
Injectional anthrax
This form can be associated with necrotizing fasciitis, organ failure, shock, coma, and meningitis
Injectional anthrax
What is the complication of anthrax?
Meningitis
What are the specimen used for bacillus anthracis?
- sputum
- blood
- lesion from cutaneous anthrax
Large, square-ended, gram positive bacilli in chains or singly
Bacillus anthracis
B. antracis shen in chains, give the appearance of
Bamboo rods or poles
Using a spore stain, what is the color of vegetative cells and what is the color of spores?
Vegetative cells stain red and spores stain green
What is the appearance of b. anthracis microscopically?
String of pearls
Culture media of choice for stool specimen
Phenylethyl Alcohol agar
On blood agar, what is the colony morphology of b. anthracis?
gray and flat with an irregular margin
Medusa head colonies
Colonies have tenacious consistency, holding tightly to the agar surface and when the edges are lifted with a loop, they stand upright without support
B. anthracis
What is the appearance of b. anthracis in gelatin medium?
Inverted fir tree
What is thd stain used on blood or CSF?
India ink stain
What is other name for bacillus cereus
Fried rice bacillus
What are the two forms of food poisoning?
Diarrheal and emetic
What are the examples of eye infections?
Endophthalmitis, keratitis with abscess
Non-gastrointestinal infections occur more frequently in IV drug users, neonates, immunosuppressed and post surgical patients
Bacillus cereus
Caused by a heat labile enterotoxin
Diarrheal form