LECTURE - Clostridium Flashcards
Which Clostridium does not form spores typically?
C. perfringens
C perfringens
- gram pos spore-forming
- found in many environmental sources as well as intestines of humans and animals
- one of the most common causes of food poisoning in NA
- can cause gas gangrene in deep wound infections
- double zone hemolysis (bulls eye)
common food sources of C. perfringens
- beef, poultry, gravies and dried or pre-cooked foods
- when foods are prepared in large quantities and kept warm for a long time before serving
symptoms of C. perfringens food poisoning
- diarrhea
- abdominal cramps
- lasts less than 24 h
- ppl infected usually do not have fever or vomiting
- not passed from one person to another
T or F. C. perfringens toxins are pre-formed
F! not pre-formed; made by bacteria in gut
Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (CPE)
C. diff
- Clostridioides
- gram pos spore-forming anaerobic; shed in feces
- any surface, device o material that becomes contaminated w feces can become a reservoir (toilets, bath tubs, etc,)
- longer gram pos rods typically than other clostridium species
- C. diff spores mainly transferred to patients via hands of healthcare personnel
- can survive for long periods of time on surfaces
- dangerous cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis
C. botulinum
- gram pos spore-forming anaerobic rod
- spores found in soil and can germinate anaerobically in improperly prepared food Or in deep puncture foods
- subterminal spores (like a head at the end)
- canned veggies
- fermented seal flipper
- botulinum toxin one of the most potent biologic toxins found in nature and cause life-threatening flaccid paralysis
- doesn’t take a lot of toxins!
C. tetani
- gram pos spore-forming motile anaerobic rod
- spores are found in the soil and can germinate anaerobically in puncture wounds (dirty, rusty nails)
- tetanus toxin (tetanospasmin) = life-threatening spastic paralysis
- easily preventable with tetanus toxoid vaccination as part of regular childhood immunizations
- boosters every 12-14 yrs
- all muscles fire at same time (spasm); unlike C botulinum where it’s a flaccid paralysis
opisthotonos
- spasm of the muscles causing backward arching of the head, neck, and spine, as in severe tetanus
- accompanied with lockjaw
- grimace
- tetani starts with face
how can tetanus spores be introduced?
deep into the skin by a puncture wound or through practice of packing a newborn’s umbilical stump with dirt
Which Clostridium species are endogenous?
C. diff and C. perfringens
main disease presentations of C. perfringens
food poisoning
wound infections
gas gangrene
T or F. Antibiotics are NOt recommended for C. perfringens
T
CPE
- C. perfringens enterotoxin
- hexamer
- gets released during sporulation
- after binding of CPE to certain claudins, Ca 2+-permeable pores are formed
- Ca 2+ influx rather than interaction with TJ protein receptors itelf induces opening of paracellular barrier
C. diff toxin and C. perfringens type E’s iota toxin (ITX)
- use lipolysis-stimukated lipoprotein receptor LSR
> a tricellular TJ protein; receptor - locking actin in the G state by ADP ribosylation leads to disorgamizqtion of actin filaments and thus to barrier disruption and cell death
