clostridia

Question 1

clostridium perfringens

Answer 1

large rod shaped, nonmotile, encapsulated, double zone of hemolysis, anaerobic cellulitis
- food poisoning

Question 2

clostridium

Answer 2

gram-positive rods, anaerobic, extracellular, spore former

Question 3

type of clostridium perfringens that is responsible for most human infections

Answer 3

type A

Question 4

alpha toxin is also known as

Answer 4

lecithinase

Question 5

what does alpha toxin (lecithinase) do?

Answer 5

degrades lecithin in mammalian cell membranes

Question 6

exotoxins effects

Answer 6

hemolytic or other cytotoxic and necrotic effects either locally or when dispersed in the bloodstream

Question 7

myonecrosis (gas gangrene)

Answer 7

painful, rapid destruction of muscle tissue; systemic spread with high mortality

Question 8

clostridial endometritis

Answer 8

gangrenous infection of uterine tissue is followed by toxemia and bacteremia

Question 9

is clostridial myonecrosis fatal

Answer 9

uniformly within days of initiation if left untreated

Question 10

treatment for clostridial myonecrosis

Answer 10

antibiotics and hyperbaric oxygen

Question 11

clostridium perfringens enterotoxin

Answer 11

heat liable and can be detected in contaminated food and feces

Question 12

clostridium botulinum causes

Answer 12

botulism- fatal food poisoning in people and animals

Question 13

source of clostridium botulinum

Answer 13

soil borne organism can also be found in GI tract of mammals

Question 14

transmission of clostridium botulinum

Answer 14

ingestion of pre-formed toxin (different from tetanus)

Question 15

risk factors of clostridium botulinum

Answer 15

immature GI flora (infants and foals)

Question 16

mechanism of action of Botulinum toxin

Answer 16

toxin survives in stomach acid, absorbed into the bloodstream, inhibits release of Ach, results in paralysis

Question 17

classic botulism

Answer 17

food poisoning

Question 18

clinical signs of botulism

Answer 18

difficulties in vision, swallowing, and other cranial nerve functions…a progressive paralysis of muscles, starting in the head and neck region and moves down the body to the arms, legs, and chest (mortality happens due to respiratory paralysis)

Question 19

most common form of botulism in the US

Answer 19

infant botulism- transmitted by honey contaminated with C botulinum

Question 20

clostridium tetani

Answer 20

source: soil-borne organism, transmission: spores are inoculated into wounds
risk factors: recent wound (puncture wound)
management practices: ear tags, castration, tail docking

Question 21

tetanus presents as_____

Answer 21

spastic paralysis, in which muscle spasms often first involve the site of infection

Question 22

lockjaw is indicative of

Answer 22

tetanus

Question 23

clostridium difficile

Answer 23

gram-positive, spore-forming rod, strict anaerobe
- spores can be detected in hospital rooms of infected patients (exogenous source of infection)

Question 24

clinical significance of clostridium difficile

Answer 24

antimicrobial drugs have been reported as predisposing to clostridial AAD and colitis

Question 25

pseudomembranous colitis

Answer 25

most severe form: profuse diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and fever
- white plaques