W32/Infections prac Flashcards
What percentage of people with gonorrhea also have Chlamydia?
50%
In which group are we most likely to find gonorrhea?
MSM
What is the classic swab-microscopy presentation of gonorrhea?
Wall-to-wall PMNs (which look pink on gram staining), with packs of intracellular gram -‘ve diplococci.
Why don’t we see chlamydia in gram stains?
The cell wall doesn’t have peptidoglycan in it, so no stains stick
Why do we have to do AB-susceptibility testing on gonorrhea?
It’s especially good at sharing genetic material, and resistance is very common
What does the EIA test for syphilis detect?
Antibodies to syphilis
What’s the drawback for the EIA test for syphilis?
It can’t distinguish between present and past infection
What does the RPR test for syphilis detect?
Antibodies against the damaged tissues that occur in syphilis detection
What’s the Ag used in the RPR test?
Cardiolipin
What’s the drawback of the RPR test for syphilis?
It’s not very specific - those general Abs can be made in lots of other disease states too
What’s the benefit of the RPR test for syphilis?
Very sensitive
Cheap
What EIA and RPR results would someone with a resolved syphilis infection have?
EIA +
RPR -
What EIA and RPR results would someone with an active syphilis infection have?
EIA +
RPR +
What do we use to treat gonorrhea infection?
- High dose of IV 3rd gen. cephalosporins (Ceftriaxone)
& - Long acting macrolyde (Azithromycin)
What’t the basis of Azithromycin use in gonorrhae infection
- Treat likely co-infection with chlamydia
2. It has a synergistic effect on the ceftriaxone, and improves treatment efficiency
