Actinomyces/Actinomycosis
Classification General Characteristics Actinomyces Clinically relevant species Epidemiology Pathogenesis Reservoir and transmission Reservoir: Transmission: Risk factors Pathophysiology Clinical Presentation Cervicofacial disease Thoracic actinomycosis Abdominal actinomycosis Pelvic actinomycosis Diagnosis and Management Diagnosis Management Comparison Two clinically relevant gram-positive, branching, filamentous rods that must be distinguished: Differentiating factors Actinomyces Nocardia Oxygen requirement Anaerobic Aerobic Acid-fast stain Not […]
Neisseria
Classification General Characteristics N. meningitidis N. gonorrhoeae Encapsulated (polysaccharide capsule) Not capsulated Ferments maltose and glucose Ferments glucose only Colonizes nasopharynx Colonizes genital mucosa Rarely has plasmids Most have plasmids Neisseria Gonorrhoeae Epidemiology Transmission Pathogenesis General virulence factors: Mechanisms to evade immune recognition: Mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance: Clinical presentation Type of presentation Clinical features Gonorrhea […]
Listeria Monocytogenes/Listeriosis
Classification General Characteristics General characteristics of Listeria species include: Pathophysiology Virulence factors Pathogenesis Immune response Transmission and Epidemiology Transmission Risk factors An invasive form of the disease can develop in certain populations: Epidemiology Clinical Presentation Depending on the size of the inoculum and the state of the immune system of the individual, L. monocytogenes infection […]
Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies
Epidemiology and Etiology Epidemiology Spongiform encephalopathies are extremely rare. Known human diseases: The most common spongiform encephalopathy is Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. The variations are: Etiology High-risk factors are: Pathophysiology Prion diseases occur when a normal, ⍺-helical protein known as PrPc is converted into an abnormal, β-pleated protein known as PrPsc. Transmission There are 3 primary ways of developing spongiform encephalopathies: Clinical Presentation and Diagnosis Transmissible […]
Haemophilus
Classification General Characteristics General characteristics of Haemophilus species: Virulence factors of Haemophilus species: Haemophilus influenzae The table below summarizes the major clinical manifestations as well as symptoms and at-risk populations for H. influenzae infection. Pathogen Population at risk Symptoms H. influenzae Meningitis Infants 3–18 months of age Rare due to vaccine Predominantly caused by strains […]
Scabies
General Characteristics of Scabies Basic features of scabies Clinically relevant species Sarcoptes scabiei (var. hominis) causes human scabies. Epidemiology Pathogenesis Reservoir Humans are the primary reservoir of S. scabiei. Transmission Risk factors Life cycle Pathophysiology The infestation takes the form of: Clinical Presentation Key characteristic features Classic scabies Crusted scabies Diagnosis Diagnosis is confirmed through […]