Exam 4: Gram + rods

Question 1

What are the two main groups of gram positive endospore forming rods?

Answer 1

• clostridium

- bacillus

Question 2

What is a unique feature of all clostridium and bacillus bacteria?

Answer 2

• endospore forming

Question 3

what bacteria causes food poisoning via two enterotoxins ( A which causes diarrhea, cramping and C which causes hemorrhagic enteritis) and exotoxin that destroys muscle and can cause gas gangrene

Answer 3

clostridium perfringens

Question 4

What bacteria produces 7 neurotoxins that block cholinergic synapses, causing flaccid paralysis in adults and infants (AKA botulism)?

Answer 4

clostridium botulinum

Question 5

How is botulism diagnosed in adults?

Answer 5

serum is injected into mice. if toxin is present, mice will begin to die within hours

Question 6

How is botulism diagnosed in infants?

Answer 6

it can only be identified in bowel contents, not in serum

Question 7

What bacteria produces neurotoxin that blocks inhibitory impulse to muscles resulting in spasm and sustained contraction?

Answer 7

clostridium tetani

Question 8

What is it called when tetany causes spasm in back muscles such that the head is thrown back and back is arched like a bow?

Answer 8

opisthotonos

Greek: opisthotonos ‘drawn backward’

Question 9

a severe infection of the colon by antibiotic resistant clostridium difficile bacteria, often after normal gut flora is eradicated by use of broad spectrum antibiotics

Answer 9

pseudomembranous colitis

Question 10

Why are loperamide and bismuth contraindicated with clostridium difficile?

Answer 10

because the slowing of fecal transit time is thought to result in extended toxin-associated damage

Question 11

Are any of the gram positive endospore forming rods part of the normal flora?

Answer 11

yes, clostridium difficile is present in normal flora of a minority of the population

Question 12

What is the only bacteria that has a capsule composed of protein?

Answer 12

bacillus anthracis

Question 13

How is the endospore of bacillus different from the endospore of clostridium?

Answer 13

the endospore of bacillus has a bamboo-like pattern

Question 14

What causes wool sorters disease?

Answer 14

cutaneous anthrax - endospore of bacillus anthracis bacteria enters a wound

Question 15

What is inhalation anthrax?

Answer 15

spores of bacillus anthracis are inhaled into alveoli, exsporulate, release toxins and cause nonspecific symptoms that are often fatal

Question 16

What bacteria is a gram + endospore forming rod that is non-encapsulated, resistant to penicillins and produces two types of endotoxins (1. diarrheal, 2. vomiting)

Answer 16

bacillus cereus

Question 17

What are the two gram +, non-endospore forming rods?

Answer 17

• corynebacterium diphtheriae

- listeria monocytogenes

Question 18

What is the primary reservoir for corynebacterium diphtheriae?

Answer 18

humans

Question 19

What bacteria produces a toxin that can cause paralysis of soft palate and eye muscles and can also be absorbed in the blood and cause distant toxic damage to kidneys, heart, extremity nerves?

Answer 19

corynebacterium diphtheriae

Question 20

What is the diagnostic test for corynebacterium diphtheriae?

Answer 20

Schick test

Question 21

What are the components of the DPT immunization?

Answer 21

diphtheria, pertussis, tetany

Question 22

What bacterial infection is characterized by a whitish gray membrane of clotted blood, epithelial cell and leukocytes that forms in the throat and can detach to cause suffocation?

Answer 22

corynebacterium diphtheriae

Question 23

What are some unique features of listeria monocytogene?

Answer 23

• it is motile at 22-28 degrees but not at body temp
• beta hemolytic
• produce endotoxin

Question 24

What bacteria can cross the placental barrier resulting in miscarriage or delivery of critically ill neonate?

Answer 24

listeria monocytogenes

Question 25

What demographic is most at risk for listeria monocytogenes?

Answer 25

immunocompromised and pregnant

Question 26

Which bacteria are anaerobic? Clostridium or bacillus?

Answer 26

Clostridium

Question 26

Which bacteria are aerobic? Clostridium or bacillus?

Answer 26

Bacillus