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Questions and Answers
What type of bacteria is responsible for diphtheria?
What type of bacteria is responsible for diphtheria?
Which characteristic arrangement is exhibited by diphtheriae bacilli?
Which characteristic arrangement is exhibited by diphtheriae bacilli?
What unique feature do diphtheriae bacilli contain that contributes to their beaded appearance?
What unique feature do diphtheriae bacilli contain that contributes to their beaded appearance?
Which staining method can be used to visualize the granules found in diphtheriae?
Which staining method can be used to visualize the granules found in diphtheriae?
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What physical characteristic is NOT associated with diphtheriae bacilli?
What physical characteristic is NOT associated with diphtheriae bacilli?
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What is the primary virulence factor of cutaneous diphtheria?
What is the primary virulence factor of cutaneous diphtheria?
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Which of the following is true about toxigenic strains of cutaneous diphtheria?
Which of the following is true about toxigenic strains of cutaneous diphtheria?
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How is cutaneous diphtheria primarily transmitted?
How is cutaneous diphtheria primarily transmitted?
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Which characteristic of the exotoxin produced by the cutaneous diphtheria organism is NOT true?
Which characteristic of the exotoxin produced by the cutaneous diphtheria organism is NOT true?
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What does the term 'lysogenized strains' refer to in the context of cutaneous diphtheria?
What does the term 'lysogenized strains' refer to in the context of cutaneous diphtheria?
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What is the primary reason for administering diphtheria antitoxin serum promptly?
What is the primary reason for administering diphtheria antitoxin serum promptly?
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In which scenario should diphtheria antitoxin serum be withheld?
In which scenario should diphtheria antitoxin serum be withheld?
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What can be inferred about the urgency of treating suspected diphtheria cases?
What can be inferred about the urgency of treating suspected diphtheria cases?
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Which of the following statements about diphtheria antitoxin serum is correct?
Which of the following statements about diphtheria antitoxin serum is correct?
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What should be considered when treating a patient suspected of having diphtheria?
What should be considered when treating a patient suspected of having diphtheria?
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What is the primary reason for limiting the pertussis vaccine for children over 6 years old?
What is the primary reason for limiting the pertussis vaccine for children over 6 years old?
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At what stage in life is a booster dose specifically recommended?
At what stage in life is a booster dose specifically recommended?
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Which vaccines should be included in a booster dose for school-age children?
Which vaccines should be included in a booster dose for school-age children?
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What is a potential serious adverse effect of administering the pertussis vaccine after 6 years of age?
What is a potential serious adverse effect of administering the pertussis vaccine after 6 years of age?
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How often should a booster dose containing diphtheria and tetanus toxoids be administered?
How often should a booster dose containing diphtheria and tetanus toxoids be administered?
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What is a characteristic of a contaminated surgical wound?
What is a characteristic of a contaminated surgical wound?
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Which type of wound is likely to have a high risk of infection due to flora from the skin or environment?
Which type of wound is likely to have a high risk of infection due to flora from the skin or environment?
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A deep wound inflicted by a gunshot is categorized primarily as what type of wound?
A deep wound inflicted by a gunshot is categorized primarily as what type of wound?
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What factor greatly complicates the healing process in drug abusers with deep wounds?
What factor greatly complicates the healing process in drug abusers with deep wounds?
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Which statement about deep wounds is accurate?
Which statement about deep wounds is accurate?
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What is the primary way gas gangrene is transmitted?
What is the primary way gas gangrene is transmitted?
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What is the role of the alpha toxin produced by the causative agent of gas gangrene?
What is the role of the alpha toxin produced by the causative agent of gas gangrene?
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Under what environmental condition do the spores of the causative agent of gas gangrene begin to germinate?
Under what environmental condition do the spores of the causative agent of gas gangrene begin to germinate?
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What consequence does tissue damage in gas gangrene primarily lead to?
What consequence does tissue damage in gas gangrene primarily lead to?
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Which of the following statements about gas gangrene is incorrect?
Which of the following statements about gas gangrene is incorrect?
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Study Notes
Corynebacterium Diphtheria
- Pathogenic: Corynebacterium diphtheriae is a pathogenic bacterium.
- Cause of Diphtheria: It causes diphtheria in humans.
- Diphtheroids: Diphtheroids are normal flora in the respiratory tract and skin.
- Gram-positive rods: Corynebacterium diphtheriae is a gram-positive rod-shaped bacterium.
- Non-spore forming: It does not form spores.
- Arranged in small groups: The bacilli are arranged in small groups at acute angles or parallel to each other, which is known as the "Chinese letter arrangement."
- Metachromatic granules: The bacilli contain metachromatic volutin granules, which can be stained by methylene blue or Neisser stain.
Clinical Significance of Corynebacterium Diphtheriae
- Diphtheria: This bacterium causes diphtheria.
- Cutaneous diphtheria: A form of diphtheria affecting the skin.
- Powerful exotoxin: The organism produces a powerful exotoxin.
- Heat-labile, highly toxic, highly antigenic: The exotoxin is heat-labile, highly toxic, and highly antigenic.
- Only lysogenized strains are toxigenic: Only lysogenized strains are toxigenic and virulent(able to cause disease).
- Respiratory droplet or contact transmission: Transmission occurs through respiratory droplets or contact.
- Non-invasive pathogen: The organism itself is not invasive.
- Local inflammation and toxemia: The pathogen causes local inflammatory conditions and toxemia.
- Colonizes oropharynx or skin: It colonizes the epithelium of the oropharynx or skin in cutaneous diphtheria.
Diagnosis of Corynebacterium Diphtheriae
- Sample: Throat swab from beneath the membrane or swabs from suspected lesions.
- Film: Microscopic examination of samples.
- Culture: using Loffler's serum medium to identify greyish white or creamy colonies.
- Blood tellurite medium: Selective medium causing grey to black colonies.
- Biochemical tests: such as catalase test (positive) and fermentation of glucose and maltose.
Toxigenicity Testing of Corynebacterium Diphtheriae
- Elek's test (in vitro): Detects the presence of toxin by observing precipitation lines formed with antitoxin.
- ELISA: Used to detect the presence of diphtheria toxin.
- PCR: A molecular technique for detecting the genes responsible for toxin production.
Treatment of Diphtheria
- Diphtheria antitoxin serum: Given for neutralizing the toxin quickly.
- Antibiotics (e.g., penicillin, erythromycin): Inhibit the growth of the organism in the throat and reduce toxin production.
Prevention of Diphtheria
- Vaccination (DTP): Diphtheria toxoid is combined with tetanus toxoid and pertussis vaccine for immunization.
- IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULE: given at various ages, including those at 2, 4, 6, and 18 months.
Clostridium (G+ve anaerobic spore-forming bacilli)
- Gram-positive bacilli: These bacteria are Gram-positive and rod-shaped.
- Anaerobic: They thrive in the absence of oxygen.
- Spore-forming: They form spores for survival.
- Survive in dust: Spores can survive in dust
Clostridium Tetani (Tetanus)
- Morphology: Gram-positive bacilli with terminal spherical spores and drum stick appearance.
- Disease: Tetanus, also known as lockjaw.
- Mode of transmission: Contaminated deep wounds with the spores present in the dust or soil.
Clostridium Botulinum
- Mode of transmission: Foodborne botulism (ingesting improperly canned foods or infant botulism)
- Virulence Factor: Produces a powerful neurotoxin that inhabits neurons leading to flaccid paralysis.
Clostridium Perfringens
- Morphology: Gram-positive large bacilli with oval subterminal spores.
- Disease: Gas Gangrene (myonecrosis), characterized by a foul-smelling wound.
- Mode of transmission: Contaminated deep wounds with the spores.
Clostridium Difficile
- Disease: Antibiotic-associated diarrhea or pseudomembranous colitis (a complication of antibiotic treatment).
- Pathogenesis: During antibiotic treatment, C. difficile multiplies, producing toxins (toxin A and toxin B) that damage colonic mucosa, leading to inflammation and colitis.
- Treatment: Stopping the antibiotic, fluid and electrolyte replacement, and administering vancomycin to prevent vancomycin resistant enterococci.
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Description
Explore the essential characteristics of Corynebacterium diphtheriae, the pathogenic bacterium responsible for diphtheria. Learn about its gram-positive properties, unique arrangement, and the clinical significance of its powerful exotoxin. This quiz is perfect for students studying microbiology and infectious diseases.
