Brucella Bacteria Characteristics and Treatment Quiz

Study Notes

Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) is a Gram-negative curved rod bacterium that causes gastric infections such as duodenal ulcers (>90% drug users), gastric ulcers (50-80%), gastritis (acute with vomiting and diarrhea, chronic is asymptomatic), gastric carcinoma (from gastritis), and gastric lymphoma.
H.pylori is microaerophilic, motile, and uses amino acids and fatty acids for energy rather than carbohydrates. It is catalase-positive, urease-positive, and has Lipid A similar to RBC-Ag.
The bacterium produces mucinase, phospholipase (PL), Vac A (vacuole), Cag A gene (Type IV SS) which injects Cag A protein ruining the cytoskeleton, and PAI (stimulates IL-8 for neutrophil activation).
H.pylori is commonly diagnosed through endoscopy/biopsy, urease detection, Skirrow or Chocolate agar tests, urea breath test, and blood serology (Chromatography or ELISA).
Treatment for H.pylori infections includes PPI, PPI/AMX/Clarithromycin or metronidazole triple therapy, or PPI+AMX+Bismuth+Metronidazole, which is very effective.
Brucella spp are aerobic coccobacilli that cause zoonotic infections. They have non-classical LPS with low toxicity and can lead to various diseases including GI symptoms, osteomyelitis in children, epididymoorchitis, abortion, respiratory symptoms, septicemia, neurobrucellosis, left-sided endocarditis, and hepatic abscess.
Brucella spp are commonly acquired from animals like goats, sheep, cattle, and swine. Treatment involves TET/DOX or combinations like DOX/RIF or TMP/SMX for 6 weeks. Vaccines are available for animals like abortus and melitensis.
Diagnosis of Brucella infections includes enriched blood culture, Agg assay, PCR, and serology like the Wright Agglutination Test.
Campylobacter spp like C.jejuni, C.coli, and C.fetus cause GI infections and extraintestinal infections. They are diagnosed using a diarrheal/rectal swab processed within 2 hours and culture on specific agar plates.
Campylobacter infections are treated with macrolides/TET or AMX/CA/IMP. These bacteria are acquired from undercooked meat and are common in certain populations like infants, adults (20-40yo), and those with hypo-δ-globulinemia.

Description

Test your knowledge on Brucella bacteria by learning about the characteristics, symptoms, and treatment options for diseases caused by B.melitensis, B.abortus, and B.suis. Explore zoonotic aspects, diagnostic methods, and common routes of transmission.