Gram Positive Bacteria

Gram positive bacteria - from lecture and books

28 cards   |   Total Attempts: 189
  

Cards In This Set

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Name the 3 genera (we were taught...)
StreptococcusStaphylococcusCorynebacteria
Shape and growth pattern of streptococcus. Relationship to oxygen...
Sperical or ovoid bacterium, grows in pairs or chains. (chains particularly when cultured). Facultatively anaerobic
What is the significance of Lancefield? What letters are involved? What (chemically) is it based on?
One method of serotype classification. Gives A-H and K-V, based on COH cell-surface antigens. Not all are medically significant.
Which Lancefield serotypes are particularly significant and what species do they correspond to?
For differentiation of strep species/ groups. Lancefield group A - strep pyogenesGroup B - Strep agalacticae (cause of neo-natal infections)
What is the serotyping for Strep Pyogenes?
Griffith type (M and T)
5 common strep pyogenes infections
Tonislitis (strep throat)Otitis mediaWound infections (which can lead to cellulitis)Impetigo (blisters, sores, can be more serious. Look it up....)scarlet fever (massive immune response to a strep super-antigen)
Complications of scarlet fever (*2)
Glomerulonephritis (type III hypersensitivity reaction)Rheumatic fever (believed to be a type II reaction by antibodies raised against the strep exotoxin attacking tissues in the heat, skin and brain)
Antibiotic of choice against strep pyogenes
Penicillin
Explain the three types of haemolysis
Alpha - changes Hb to the green met-haemaglobin through reaction of H2O2Beta - lysis of erythrocytes by pore-forming toxins such as streptolysin O and S. Gamma - no haemolysis
Virulence factors for strep pyogenes (x7 - sorry!)
- Hyalouronic acid capsule - non-antigenic- Hyalouronidase - aid spread of bacterium by breaking down its capsule- Streptolysin O - pore-forming toxin that binds to cholesterol and causes lysis of RBCs. Highly antigenic. Anti-SLO test diagnostic for strep infection.- Streptolysin S - similar to streptolysin O but non-antigenic- Protein M - antiphagocytic surface protein- streptokinase - breaks down clots- C5a peptidase - breaks down complement
4 pathogenic strep species (NB, one class of species)
Streptococcus pyogenesStrep agalacticaeStrep pneumoniaeViridans streptococci (actually a class of oral strep including strep oralis and strep sanguinis) - can cause systemic / mileri infections when they get into the wrong place (endocarditis, etc.)
Features of streptococcus pneumoniae: - appearance on agar - haemolysis (plus explanation) - they're soluble in something....
Grows in glossy colonies on agaralpha-haemolytic (produces H2O2)bile soluble
Prevalence / mortality of strep pneumoniae
Commensal in about 30% of the populationCauses disease in about 1 per 1000 population /yearMortality of 10-20%
What else does strep pneumoniae significantly cause besides 20% of cases of CAP? (x3)
About 20% of cases of meningitisSinusitisOtitis media
Why are asplenic pts at higher risk of infection by strep pneumoniae?
Spleen produces tuftsin - opsonisation protein