Bacillus and Clostridium — Flashcards

Flashcard 1: Clostridium is a gram _____ rod

Answer: positive

Flashcard 2: All Clostridia are gram _____, spore-forming, obligate anaerobes

Answer: positive bacilli

Flashcard 3: Bacillus anthracis and cereus are gram-_____ bacilli (rods)

Answer: positive

Flashcard 4: Gram-positive rod-shaped bacillus with _____ oval spores is suggestive of Clostridium botulinum.

Answer: subterminal

Extra: • **Clostridium botulinum**: Gram-positive rods with **subterminal, oval** spores. • **Clostridium tetani**: Gram-positive rods with **terminal, spherical** spores ("drumstick" appearance).

Flashcard 5: _____ difficile; botulinum; perfringens; tetani are all obligate anaerobes

Answer: Clostridium

Flashcard 6: _____ degrades phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin, resulting in myonecrosis (muscle breakdown)

Answer: Alpha toxin

Flashcard 7: Bacillus anthracis is often described as large _____ in chains

Answer: gram positive bacilli

Flashcard 8: School of fish/railroad track appearance on Gram stain is suggestive of _____

Answer: Hemophilus ducreyi

Flashcard 9: Which subtype of diphtheria bacilli shows 'poached egg' colonies (flat with central elevation)? _____

Answer: mitis

Flashcard 10: Which subtype of diphtheria bacilli shows 'frog egg' colonies (dark centre, light margins)? _____

Answer: intermedius