gram +ve pathogens

Question 1

give some examples of gram +ve pathogens and what disease they can cause

Answer 1

streptococcus = pneumonia, GAS
enterococcus = enteric infections
staphylococcus = skin infection, nosocomial

Question 2

what types of disease are associated with Group A Streptococcus (GAS)

Answer 2

beta-haemolytic
streptococcus pyogenes
streptococcal sore throat(scarlet fever)
invasive diseases

Question 3

what pathogen causes pneumonia and what is it

Answer 3

streptococcus pneumoniae, its an acute inflammation of the lungs often caused by inhaling the pathogen

Question 4

what are the main 2 species of staphylococcus spp.

Answer 4

S. aureus and S. epidermidis

Question 5

what disease is caused by S. aureus

Answer 5

MRSA, is a mainly nosocomial disease(found in hospitals) in elderly/intensive/burn/surgical patients

Question 6

what disease is caused by S. epidermidis

Answer 6

most common cause of skin, soft tissue and wound infections

also associated with foreign devices( eg catheters)

Question 7

what is clostridium spp. and what disease does it cause

Answer 7

a gram +ve anaerobic bacilli found I normal flora of human and many animals, that produces spores that can live outside the body for many months, they produce toxins that cause severe tissue damage

Question 8

what does clostridium difficile cause

Answer 8

causes antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, esp. in elederly patients