Gram Negative Cocci

Question 1

Neisseria General

shape, requirements

Answer 1

G- diplococci (bean shaped)
Usually capnophilic, best in humid environment
Fastidious if pathogenic

Question 2

Neisseria Gonorrhoeae Background

where, transmission, clinical

Answer 2

Habitat: NOT normal flora, mucous membranes, conjuctiva
Transmission: person to person, only human natural host
Clinical significance: sexually transmitted, conjuctivitis

Question 3

Neisseria Gonorrhoeae Virulence Factor

4

Answer 3

• Capsule to resist phagocytosis
• Pilus for attachment
• Lipooligosaccharide (LOS) endotoxin
• IgA protease that releases enzyme to destroy IgA1

Question 4

Neisseria Gonorrhoeae Infections

Local, systemic, vertical trans, other

Answer 4

Local
- GI tract infection, inflammatory disease and reproductive organs

Systemic
- Skin lesions
- Endocarditis
- Leading cause of purulent arthritis

Vertical transmission
Infected mother to baby
during childbirth

Other
- Septicemia and infection of skin, joints in some women, results of untreated

Question 5

Gonorrhea: The Clap

Answer 5

Women
- Higher chance of getting it
- More asymptomatic carriers

Men
- Lower chance of getting it
- Initially asymptomatic mostly

Purulent discharge
- Untreated can lead to carrier state, major reservoir is the carrier

Question 6

Neisseria Gonorrhoeae Antimicrobial Resistance

what is an effective one

Answer 6

Progressively gained resistance to each new antibacterial agent
- 1 last recommended anf effective one is: cephalosporins

Question 7

Neisseria Meningitidis Background

Where, trans, clinical, virulence

Answer 7

Habitat: oral, nasoph. mucus membranes, may not cause infection - carrier state
Transmission: person to person, throat secretions, children, teens, YA, 65 or older at risk, human host
Clinical: meningitis, meningococcemia
Virulence: structures like NEGO, polysaccharide capsule, causes increase in production of capsule in high temps

Question 8

Neisseria Meningitidis: Meningitis

what, symptoms

Answer 8

Inflammation of layers of meninges
- Will see microbes in CSF

Symptoms: stiff neck, headache, light sensitivity, altered mental state, nausea
- In babies: fever, high-pitched cry, doesn’t like being moved, soft spot in skull

Question 9

How Neisseria Meningitidis Travels To Brain

3 ways and why

Answer 9

Transcellular: travels right through cells
Paracellular: travels between cells
Trojan horse: from within phagocytes traveling through

It can do these because of capsule that masks the cell surface

Question 10

Neisseria Meningitidis: Meningococcemia

Answer 10

Septicemia with/without meningitis
Clinical features
- Thrombosis, multiorgan involvement
- Petechial skin rash, trunk and lower extremities
- Can spread rapidly, DIC and shock

Question 11

Other Neisseria Species

where, trans, clinical

Answer 11

Habitat: normal flora of URT
Transmission: endogenous, maybe person to person
Clinical: rare, low virulence

Question 12

Moraxella Catarrhalis Background

Where, trans, clinical

Answer 12

Habitat: normal flora of URT, sometimes female genital tract
Transmission: endogenous, person to person
Clinical: U and L RT infections, rare disseminated disease

Question 13

Moraxella Catarrhalis Infections

Answer 13

Third most common cause of otitis media and sinitus in children

Lower RT infections: elderly, chronic pulmonary diseases
Aspiration pneumonia: particles from mouth constantly aspirated into airways, causes inflammation or infection in lungs

Question 14

Treatment and Prevention for Neisseria and Moraxella

Answer 14

• Antibiotics
• Postexposure prophylaxis for NEME, 24 hours
• Vaccine for NEME groups A, C, Y, W-135
• Droplet precautions
• Serogroup B meningococcal vaccine

Question 15

Specimen Collection

Answer 15

• Pathogenic Neisseria can dry out, temp sensitive
• Flocked swab for NEGO
• CO2 enriched, or transport media
• Culture within 6 hours