Gram - Respiratory Pathogens Flashcards
What type of bacteria is Neisseria?
gram - diplococci
What is closely related to Neisseria and a common cause of Otis media in children?
Moraxella catarrhalis
What is the only reservoir of Neisseria?
humans which inhabit mucosal surfaces
What are the 2 main species of neisseria?
N. meningitisdis and N. gonorrhoeae
T/F: 5-30% of the population carry N. meningitidis.
True!
This could be the cause of occasional outbreaks
How is n. meningitidis transmitted?
large droplets in close range
susceptible in military groups
T/F: meningitis is not a cause of concern regarding mortalities
False!
10-15% die even with antibiotics with the highest age group 15-24
What happens after getting N. meningitidis?
carrier or severe disease: systemic inflammation (sepsis) depending on if capsule present and/or meningitis
T/F: N. gonorrhea goes through the blood stream
False!
It always stays on the surface on urethral cells
What is the vaccine for gonorrhea?
none
What does the body recognize in gram -?
the LPS and body will produce cytokines for inflammation
What is the LPS in respiratory bacteria like hemophalus and meniningits?
slightly different LPS called LOS endotoxin
has no O-antigen
T/F: N. meningitidis has a capsule polysaccharide
True!
Major virulence factor used for vaccine
What is a very distinctive feature of N. meningitidis?
they have a diplococci shape with pili/fimbriae
Does N. meningitidis have exo-toxins?
No but they do have eco-enzymes: IgA protease (similar in strep pnuemoniae)
Why didn’t the old vaccine for N. meningitidis not work on children?
because children can’t react to a pure carbohydrate vaccine so requires polysaccharide conjugated to protein
What do they use for B capsule strains of meningitis?
2 outer membrane proteins
What do all gram - bacteria release?
blebs or outer membrane vesicles which means it is another mean of DNA exchange and new generations must be made to keep up with the resistance
T/F: Haemophilus is a major part of the normal flora of upper respiratory tract
True
The normal ones do not have a capsule but disease causing ones do
How does Haemophilus spread?
person-to-person by inhaling airborne droplets and shared secretions
What can be caused by Haemophilus?
sinusitis, pink eye, and pneumonia
How are invasive infection of Haemophilus influenza spread?
type b capsule strains causing septicemia and meningitis
What has LOS?
H. influenza and N. meningitis
Which is gram +: neisseria meningitidis, haemophilus influenza, or streptococcus pneumoniae?
streptococcus pneumoniae
All are upper respiratory infections and all can cause meningitis by going through bloodstream with the capsule
