Microbiology Flashcards
(250 cards)
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A normal inhabitant of the oral cavity, infection can be associated with dental procedures, with formation of lesions that erupt through the face with a purulent discharge
Actinomycetes israelii (diagnosis is by finding sulfur granules = tangles of filaments of organisms wrapped in a matrix of calcium phosphate, imparting a yellow [sulfur] color to the abscess and discharge)
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The most severe form of this disease results from the inhalation of spores with mediastinitis, pulmonary edema, and hemorrhage (Woolsorter’s disease)
Bacillus anthracis
(can occur as an occupational disease of textile or agricultural personnel resulting from contact with infected hides or wool; recently, it has gained attention as an agent of biowarfare and bioterrorism)
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Causes gastroenteritis and is typically associated with the consumption of reheated rice
Bacillus cereus
(rapid emesis or diarrhea is associated with an enterotoxin that increased cAMP and is produced by the organism as it germinates)
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Disease can be due to the ingestion of preformed toxin in home-canned foods or by the ingestion of spores in honey by an infant
Clostridium botulinum
symptoms include flaccid paralysis, dry mouth, diplopia, dysphagia, and respiratory failure
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Associated with the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics and the overgrowth of toxin-producing bacteria
Clostridium difficile (results in pseudomembranous colitis and is also a major nosocomial disease)
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Causes gas gangrene and is often associated with automobile and motorcycle accidents
Clostridium perfringens
(spores are abundant in soil and germinate in wounds; treatment includes surgical debridement, antibiotics, and hyperbaric oxygen)
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Infection is associated with traumatic inoculation of spores that germinate and produce a toxin that causes a spastic paralysis
Clostridium tetani (the organism looks like a long rod with a dilated terminal end containing a spore that resembles a tennis racquet)
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Can cause risus sardonicus, the characteristics grimace of lockjaw
Clostridium tetani
(treatment includes the use of antitoxins produced in horses or hyperimmunized humans, and antispasmodics such as benzodiazepines)
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Causes gray pseudomembranes on the back of the throat
Corynebacterium diphtheriae
organism often viewed in a “Chinese-letter” configuration
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A common cause of nosocomial infections, this organism is often resistant to many antibiotics, including vancomycin
Enterococcus spp.
common cause of urinary tract infections, sepsis, meningitis, and endocarditis
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Causes a fishy smelling vaginal discharge
Gardnerella vaginalis (histologically characterized by the presence of "clue cells", vaginal epithelial cells covered with bacteria, see on a Pap smear)
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As the dominant organism of normal vaginal flora, its metabolism helps maintain the low pH of the vagina
Lactobacillus spp.
(the lactic acid produced helps prevent the overgrowth of potentially pathogenic organisms; with the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, such acid-producing flora is lost, allowing for overgrowth of pathogenic species)
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This cause of late onset neonatal sepsis is a facultative intracellular parasite that spreads from cell to cell via actin rockets
Listeria monocytogenes (this organism can be detected as short non-spore-forming rods with a tumbling end-over-end motility)
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As well as being gram positive, this organism is also weakly acid fast and causes a pneumonia predominantly in immuno-compromised patients
Nocardia asteroides
this aerobic bacteria with filamentous growth is a common soil organism
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Part of the microbial flora of the skin, this bacilli contributes to the development of acne
Propionibacterium acnes (the organism produces lipases that split fatty acids that cause inflammation, resulting in the formation of comedones)
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A major cause of acute bacterial endocarditis, especially in IV drug users
Staphylococcus aureus (unlike subacute bacterial endocarditis, this organism can cause infection of undamaged heart valves, typically on the right side [tricuspid] in IV drug users)
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A major cause of abscesses, furuncles, carbuncles, and other skin infections such as impetigo
Staphylococcus aureus
this beta-hemolytic cocci grows in grape-like clusters, produces coagulase, and grows in culture as yellowish colonies
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Part of the normal flora of the skin, it causes infection of IV lines and catheters; it is a major cause of endocarditis in patients with prosthetic heart valves
Staphylococcus epidermidis (similar to Staphylococcus aureus, but grows as white colonies, does NOT produce coagulase, does NOT ferment mannitol, and does NOT produce Protein A)
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The second leading cause of urinary tract infection in sexually active women
Staphylococcus saprophyticus
differentiated from Staphylococcus epidermidis by its ability to ferment mannitol and its resistance to novobiocin
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An important cause of neonatal sepsis and meningitis
Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B) (this beta-hemolytic, bacitracin-resistant cocci is a normal inhabitant of the female genital tract and can be acquired during vaginal delivery)
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A major cause of dental caries
Streptococcus mutans
a member of the viridans group, it is also alpha-hemolytic and optochin-resistant
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Lancet-shaped diplococci found in a rusty brown sputum
Streptococcus pneumoniae (causes >90% of all cases of lobar pneumonia)
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The use of a quellung reaction helps differentiate between the 85 different capsular subtypes
Streptococcus pneumoniae (this alpha-hemolytic, optochin-sensitive bile-soluble coccus grows on sheep red blood cell agar; the vaccine contains at least 23 of these subtypes)
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Infection results in rheumatic fever
Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A) (characterized by a constellation of symptoms including migratory polyarthritis, erythema marginatum, pancarditis, Sydenham chorea, and subcutaneous nodules)