Throat microbiology Flashcards
What percentage of sore throats have a viral cause?
66%
What is the most common bacterial cause of a sore throat?
Strep pyogenes / group A strep
What is the treatment for a group A strep throat infection?
Oral penicillin
When are antibiotics indicated in a sore throat?
If 3 or 4 of the following symptoms are present
Fever
Pussy discharge
Inflamed nodes
No cough
How long is the antibiotic course?
10 days
How do strep pyogenes show on microscopy?
Gram positive cocci in chains
Purple round in chains
What kind of haemolysis does strep A undergo?
Beta haemolysis (complete)
What complications can arise from a strep A sore throat?
Quinsy- a peritonsillar abscess
Otitis media
Scarlet fever
What two other late complications can rarely arise?
Rheumatic fever
Glomerulonephritis
What bacteria causes diphtheria?
Corynebacterium diphtheriae
How does C. diphtheriae show?
Gram positive rod
Clinically, how does diphtheria present?
Sore throat with grey-white membrane in pharynx.
Swollen lymph nodes especially submandibular
When is diphtheria immunised against?
2,3 and 4 months as part of the 5-in-1
What antibiotic can be given to combat diphtheria?
Penicillin
Erythromycin if allergic
What fungus causes thrush?
Candida albicans
