Gram Positive Bugs Flashcards
(88 cards)
Why do gram + bacteria stain purple?
Because of the peptidoglycan cell wall, which is impermeable so it retains the blue stain.
Difference between the strep species hemolytic actions?
Beta: hemolyze fully
Alpha: incomplete hemolysis, turn green (viridans).
gamma: Don’t hemolyze at all
Differentiate between staph and strep presentation?
staph: cluster like grapes
strep: chains or diclocci (pair up), don’t clump like staph
What is associated with Corynebacterium Diptheriae?
gray pseudo membrane
How do you differentiate between gram + and - on a gram stain?
gram + = purple
gram - = red
Different structures of gram + and - bacteria?
bacillus= rod shaped coccus = sphere shaped spirillum = spiral streptococci -> cocci in chains staphylococci -> cocci in clusters
3 different staph species?
- staph aureus
- staph epidermis (foreign bodies - cath, prosthetic valve)
- staph saprophyticus (UTIs)
What does staph aureus look like on a gram stain?
It is bright yellow on sheep blood agar, and will coagulate positive with hydrogen peroxide (bubbles)
this differentiates it from the other 2 staph species that are negative coagulants.
What are the Streptococcus species?
Strep. pyogenes (group A) strep. agalactiae (group B) strep. pneumoniae (pneumococcus) -> GPdiplococci strep viridans Enterococcus (group D)
Why is strep pneumo so virulent?
Because it is encapsulated so when you have no spleen you are at high risk for strep pneumo infections (also why immunocompromised, children, and elderly are at risk). -> this doesn’t have lancefield antigens either
What are the lancefield antigens
differentiates between the different groups of streptococci species. All have specific antigens -> group A, B
Viridans (alpha hemo) and pneumo don’t have lancefield antigens
Where are common places for bacterial infections (staph and strep)?
skin (staph), soft tissue and bone
What are the 2 main classes of infection
local: face -> acne
generalized (systemic)
What is a localized infection?
the organism enters the body and reaches the target site of infection -> then adheres to or enters host cells and multiplies at site of infection. Infection spreads within site (resp. tract or intestines).
- the sxs of the illness appear
- organism doesn’t spread through the lymphatic system or reach the bloodstream. The infection subsides due to host defenses (immunity) -> the agent is eliminated from the body and the infected cells are replaced and pt is cured!!
Explain a generalized infection?
the organism enters the body and reaches the target site of initial infection. The organism then adheres to or enters the host cells and multiplies at initial site of infection. The infection spreads within the site and to other sites via tissues, lymphatic system, bloodstream (bacterimia, viremia) and possibly other routes.
- sxs of illness may appear
- organisms infect other organs, tissues and cells -> more spread via bloodstream
- sxs of illness become severe
- host defenses eliminate organisms leading to cure or disease continues, possibly leading to irreversible damage or death.
What are 2 common localized infections?
cellulitis, and erysipelas
What are some potentially lethal infections?
- necrotizing fasciitis (flesh eating)
- myonecrosis (gas gangrene or clostridial myonecrosis)
- pyomyositis (abscess from bacterial infection of skeletal muscles)
Common staph infections
gram positive
cocci, grape like clusters
most are harmless and reside normally on the skin and mucous membranes
MRSA: resistant to b-lactam antibiotics
What might MRSA be confused with?
a spider bite
How does coagulase differentiate the staph species?
coagulase + species (virulence) -> staph aureus (common nasal flora)
coagulase - species - staph epidermidis (universal skin flora)
How might staph present in an infection?
stye (cordeolum) boils, carbuncles, furuncles sinusitis hematogenous spread (IV -epid.) endocarditis pneumonia, emesis, impetigo, diarrhea, TSS, UTI, cystitis, osteomyelitis, SSSS
What are the cutaneous infections of S. aureus?
folliculitis (boils), furuncles, burns and wounds
What are deep infections of S. aureus?
osteomyelitis, abscesses, pneumonia, endocarditis, septicemia
What are the toxic mediated infections of S. aureus?
-staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS), TSS, food poisoning