Legionella Pneumophila & Haemophilus Influenzae Flashcards
What is the gram rxn & morphology of the microbe?
Gram-negative (stained pink/red) & are bacillus shaped
What are the characteristics of L. Pneumophila?
Contain flagella that allows for motility & are fastidious meaning they require special media (charcoal yeast extract agar) or cell culture
What disease does L.pneumophila cause?
Legionnaires disease (a type of pneumonia)
Where are legionella found?
Fresh water (living intracellularly in amoeba)
What is the incubation period for legionnaires disease?
2-10 days (average of 4)
What are the signs & symptoms of legionnaires disease?
Rising fever, cough, diarrhea, abdominal pain, impaired respiration, & organ failure
What is the primary mode of transmission?
Vehicle transmission via aerosoles (inhaling aerosols)
What are the virulence factors?
- Endotoxins
- Porin proteins (part of the gram - cell wall that allow for attachment)
- Can survive & multiply in phagocytes
What patients are @ risk?
- smokers
- older males
- elderly w/ underling conditions (I.e. alcoholism/diabetes)
How can we diagnose?
- Antibody tiers
- culturing
- urine antigen test
- FAT
- DNA probes
What is the treatment?
Antibiotics
How to prevent?
Clean shower heads & properly maintain hot tubs or hot water tanks
Name some characteristics for Haemophlius influenzae
- gram negative bacilli
- facultative anaerobe
- sensitive to drying out disinfectants & antibiotics (GOOD)
- fastidious (need enriched media to grow)
What color are P.aeruginosa & H. Influenzae for the gram stain rxn?
Red/ pink because they are gram negative
What is the reservoir for H. Influenzae ?
Humans (healthy adult carriers) , found in the upper respiratory tract of humans
