Bacteria — Flashcards

Flashcard 41: pseudomembraneous colitis

Answer: Clostridium difficile

Extra: metronidazole or oral vancomycinrecent antibiotic use, especially clindamycin or ampicillin

Flashcard 42: What are the key microbiological characteristics and capsule composition of Bacillus anthracis?

Answer: Gram-positive, spore-forming rod. Only bacteria to have a **polypeptide capsule** (poly-D-glutamate).

Extra: - Aerobe - Non-motile - Medusa head appearance on agar - Main diseases: Cutaneous anthrax (Black eschar) and Pulmonary anthrax (Woolsorter's disease)

Flashcard 43: B. anthracis is unique in that it is the only bacteria known to make a _____.

Answer: polypeptide capsule

Flashcard 44: cutaneous anthrax

Answer: Bacillus anthracis

Extra: painless black cutaneous eschar surrounded by edematous ring, progressing to bacteremia and death

Flashcard 45: pulmonary anthrax

Answer: Bacillus anthracis

Extra: Inhalation of B. anthracis spores; flu-like symptoms rapidly progressing to pulmonary hemorrhage, mediastinitis, shock.

Flashcard 46: reheated rice syndrome

Answer: Bacillus cereus; food poisoning

Extra: nausea and vomiting OR pain and watery diarrhea following consumption of leftover rice or pasta 

Flashcard 47: Key characteristics of Listeria monocytogenes:

Answer: Gram-positive bacilli, facultative anaerobe, tumbling motility, and catalase-positive.

Extra: Listeria monocytogenes clinical features: - Causes amnionitis, septicemia, and spontaneous abortion in pregnant women. - Granulomatosis infantiseptica, neonatal meningitis. - Meningitis in immunocompromised and elderly. - Treatment: Ampicillin. - Note: It is a cold-growing organism (4°C).

Flashcard 48: What foods are most commonly associated with Listeria monocytogenes infection?

Answer: unpasteuried dairy, deli meats

Flashcard 49: Listeria monocytogenes polymerizes host _____, and demonstrates characteristic _____ motility.

Answer: actin

Flashcard 50: What is standard prophylaxis for contacts of patients with N. meningitidis?

Answer: rifampin, ciproflaxacin, or ceftriaxone