Staphylococcus Flashcards
What are the properties of Staphylococcus?
Gram positive cocci arranged in grape like clusters and is Catalse Positive
Staphylococcus can grow in a media containing high what?
salt concentration
Staphylococcus is an important cause of what kind of infections?
hospital acquired infections.
What staph spp. is the main pathogen causing pyogenic infections?
S. Aureus
Which staph spp. is found mainly on genitourinary mucous membranes and skin?
S. Saprophyticus
Which staph spp. is coagulase positive?
S. Aureus
This staph spp. is found on normal skin commensals
S. Epidermidis
What is the transmission mechanism of staphylococcus?
- Person to person
- Contaminated fomites (bed linins, clothing)
- Hands
- Sneezing
- Surgical wounds
- Canned meat products
What is the most common cause of community-acquired skin and soft tissue infections?
MRSA
The severity of the Staphylococcus disease depends on what factors?
- Inoculum size
- Host immunity
- Virulence
What is the pathogenesis of staphylococcus spp.?
- Ability of bacteria to evade phagocytosis
- Produce surface proteins that mediate adherence
- Production of specific toxins and enzymes
What are the 5 main Staph virulence factors?
- Capsule
- Slime layer
- Peptidoglycan
- Teichoic acid
- PROTEIN A
What does Protein A do?
Inhibits antibody mediated clearance by binding IgG-Fc receptors.
What is the biological effects of Teichoic acid?
Binds to fibronectin
Is Staphylococcus catalase + or -?
Catalase positve
What are some important Toxins and enzymes Staphylococcus secretes?
Catalase, Coagulase, B-Lactamase, TSST-1, Panton-Valentine Leukocidin toxin
What toxin is responsible for SSSS (staphylococcus scalded skin syndrome)?
Exfoliatins (A & B)
Alpha hemolysins is an important virulence factor where?
In skin infections
What do Beta, Gamma, and PV-leukocidin toxin do?
Lyse macrophages and neutrophils
Which toxin releases severe cutaneous and pulmonary infections?
PV-leukocidin
Which toxins act as superantigens in Staphylococcus infections?
- Toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST-1)
- Enterotoxin A-E, G-I
- Exfoliative Toxin A
How does Staph food poisoning (intoxication) occur?
Occurs through ingestion of a preformed enterotoxin (A-E) in food contaminated by human carrier or through contaminated Milk and Cheeses, canned meat products, ice cream, etc.
What are the clinical manifestation of staph food poisoning?
Abrupt onset of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,abdominal pain occurring 2-6 hours after ingestion.
Toxic Shock Syndrome is associated with what?
toxigenic staph strains producing TSST-1 or Enterotoxin B
What does the TSS clinical picture look like?
Abrupt onset of fever, vomiting, myalgias, diarrhea, confusion, RASH with desquamation of palms and soles, severe Hypotension
The Capsules (VF) biological effects are to inhibit what?
inhibits chemotaxis and phagocytosis. also inhibits proliferation of mononuclear cells