Staphylococci Flashcards
Are staph gram positive or negative?
Gram positive
Explain the structure and characteristics of S.aureu
spherical, non-motile, colonises skin and URT, opportunistic pathogen, aerobic or facultative anaerobe, aerosol or direct contact transmission
Staph are found in the normal flora. True or false?
True
Name 3 medical conditions that are caused by staph.A
Impetigo
Conjunctivitis
Device related infections
How can conjunctivitis be treated?
Chloramphenicol drops, chloramphenicol ointment ointment, fusidic acid gel
What are some symptoms of conjunctivitis?
grittiness, itching, discharge, pink eye
How is conjunctivitis transmitted?
hand to eye contact or via formites
How can Impetigo be treated?
if mild or localised: Fusidic acid cream or Mupirocin ointment (if MRSA)/ if bullous or widespread: Flucloxacillin PO, Clarithromycin PO
How does impetigo present?
2 Classic forms: Bullous and non bullous
What should you do if there is no improvement after initial treatment of impetigo?
Swab to find microbial cause
How are device-related infections caused by Staph A treated?
Removal of medical device, surgical removal of infected tissue, IV antibiotics (Flucloxacillin, clarithromycin)
Why are indwelling device infections such a big problem in the clinical setting?
they are biofilm associated making them difficult to treat, they may involve colonisation of devices designed for short and long term insertion into humans, infections offer variant characteristics such as poor response to antibiotics, recurrence, require low inoculum, well defined microbiological profile
What are the general signs of an indwelling device infection?
Variable, warmth at infection site and redness. There is a potential for systemic infection so can experience fever, malaise and elevated HR
Which indwelling devices are at risk from MRSA?
vascular or urinary catheter, tracheostomy tubes, feeding tubes, CNS shunts, orthopaedic implants
Causative agent depends on what?
Site of infection
