Bacterial Disease Associations Exam 2
Organism Gram Morphology Comments Disease
Stain
Bordetella Negative Bacillus Immunity from childhood vaccination wanes 5 to Whooping cough
pertussis 10 years after the last dose (usually given at 4
to 6 years of age), with efficacy of the vaccine
falling from 100% in the first year following
vaccination to 46% in the seventh year.
Because no booster for pertussis is given
beyond the age of 6 years in the US and
elsewhere, virtually all adolescents and adults
are susceptible, although recommendations are
coming out to include the booster with the
tetanus and diptheria booster .
Many cases go unrecognized and diagnosed as
URIs, bronchitis, and allergies, with an
estimated 40% subclinical cases, even so
pertussis is the 9th most reported disease to
CDC overall (6th most reported bacterial
disease).
Coxiella burnetti Negative Bacillus Small obligate intracellular parasite, does Q fever
not require a vector for transmission;
Enterobacter spp. Negative Bacillus Facultatively anaerobic enteric, one of the Nosocomial pneumonia and
primary causes of bacterial nosocomial wound infections.
infections.
Escherichia coli Negative Bacillus Facultatively anaerobic enteric, one of the Traveler’s
primary causes of bacterial nosocomial diarrhea/Montezuma’s revenge,
infections. enteroinvasive gastroenteritis,
enterotoxigenic gastroenteritis,
enterohemorrhagic
gastroenteritis (O157:H7),
nosocomial pneumonia and
wound infections. Acute
inflammation of appendix,
gallbladder, kidney, and urinary
bladder, endotoxin shock,
Haemophilus Negative Bacillus Carbohydrate capsule important to Invasive disease caused by
influenzae pathogenicity, especially those with type b Haemophilus influenzae may
capsular antigens - the acronym Hib refers to produce any of several clinical
this; Childhood vaccination syndromes, including meningitis,
bacteremia, epiglottitis, or
pneumonia.
Klebsiella Negative Bacillus Facultatively anaerobic enteric, one of the Most common cause of
pneumonia primary causes of bacterial nosocomial surgical wound infections
infections.
Pseudomonas Negative Bacillus Extraordinary nutritional spectrum, can degrade Nosocomial pneumonia and
aeruginosa many different organic molecules - may grow in wound infections, urinary tract
disinfectants. Aerobic but can sometimes infections, burns, dermatitis,
substitute nitrogen for oxygen, becoming otitis externa; can cause
anaerobic. One of the primary causes of septicemia, abscesses, and
bacterial nosocomial infections meningitis.
Rickettsia rickettsii Negative Bacillus Small obligate intracellular parasite, requires Rocky Mountain spotted fever
a vector for transmission.
Salmonella Negative Bacillus Facultatively anaerobic enteric, inhabits Dysentery (Salmonellosis)
enterica intestinal tracts of animals, birds, reptiles; 3rd
most reported disease to CDC.
Shigella sonnei Negative Bacillus Facultatively anaerobic enteric, most common Dysentery (Shigellosis)
species in U.S., 10th most common disease
reported to CDC (7th most reported bacterial
disease).
Anaplasma Negative Coccus Small obligate intracellular parasite, requires Human granulocytic
phagocytophilum a vector for transmission. Lacks peptidoglycan anaplasmosis (HGA)
and lipid A, cells are fragile. HGA is a tick
borne disease formerly attributed to Ehrlichia
spp.; transmitted by Ixodes scapularis
Chlamydia Negative Coccus Small obligate intracellular parasite, does Trachoma, the leading cause of
trachomatis not require a vector for transmission; requires blindness worldwide, and
ATP from host. 2 forms, elementary bodies, nongonococcal urethritis (STD).
metabolically inactive resistant transmissible
form, and reticular bodies, metabolically active
inside host. Most common STD in the U.S.
and number 1 most reported disease to
CDC.
Ehrlichia spp. Negative Coccus Small obligate intracellular parasite, requires Human moncytotrophic
a vector for transmission. HE is a tickborne ehrlichiosis (HME)
disease transmitted primarily by the Lone Star
tick.
Neisseriae Negative Coccus 2nd most reported disease to CDC Gonorrhea, neonatal
gonorrhoea gonorrheal ophthalmia
(gonococcus)
Neisseriae Negative Coccus Adult and childhood vaccination for those at risk Meningitis (meningococcal; 2nd
meningitidis most common cause of bacterial
(meningococcus) meningitis)
Borrelia Negative Spirochete Vector borne; 5th most reported disease to Lyme disease, relapsing fever
burgdorferi CDC
Treponema Negative Spirochete 4th most reported disease to CDC Syphilis
pallidum
Bacillus anthracis Positive Bacillus Endospore forming, zoonotic, causes disease Anthrax
in animals (cattle, goats, sheep). Endospores
may remain viable in soil and animal products
for many years. Transmitted to humans by
contact with infected animals, especially hides
or wool. Produces a powerful exotoxin;
cutaneous, gastrointestinal, and inhalational
forms of the disease, inhalational is most
dangerous form. Spores used as a weapon of
bioterror.
Clostridium spp. Positive Bacillus Endospore-forming obligate anaerobe, toxin producing, non-invasive, found
in soil, sewage, honey, house dust, animal and human intestinal tracts.
Clostridium Heat sensitive neurotoxin, binds to motor neurons, produces flaccid Botulism, infant botulism most
botulinium paralysis, may kill by respiratory or cardiac failure. Or may be used common form in U.S., commonly
cosmetically to reduce wrinkling by inhibiting facial muscle contraction. associated with feeding infants
Endospores are destroyed by commercial canning, may be present in less than 1 year honey - spores
home canned foods not properly heated during canning (spores germinate and produce toxin.
germinate and produce toxin) or cooked before eating.
Clostridium Normal microflora of human intestinal tracts, histotoxic, causes Gas gangrene, C. perfringens
perfringens necrotizing infection of skeletal muscle if spores introduced to anoxic gastroenteritis
tissue, gas produced from carbohydrate fermentation. Enterotoxin
produced in gut during sporulation causes hypersecretion associated
with gastroenteritis.
Clostridium tetani Neurotoxin (tetanospasmin) inhibits relase of inhibitory N.T.'s at spinal Tetanus
cord motor nerves, causes spastic paralysis, trismus (lockjaw) tonic
convulsions; death usually results from spasms of diaphragm and
intercostal respiratory muscles. Childhood vaccination, should receive
booster at least every 5 years along with diptheria booster and now
pertussis booster.
Clostridium difficile Produces antibiotic-associated colitis days to weeks after antibiotic Causes nearly half of all
therapy. nosocomial diarrhea
Corynebacterium Positive Bacillus Childhood vaccination, should receive booster Diptheria
diptheriae with tetanus booster
Listeria Positive Bacillus Common cause of food
Excreted in animal feces, found in soil, water,
monocytogenes poisoning, 4th most common
and dairy products. Survives at refrigerator
cause of bacterial meninigitis,
temperatures, can survive in phagocytes, can
can cross the placenta and
cross the placenta. Only gram + that contains
endotoxin. cause still birth or neonatal
meningitis.
Mycobacterium Positive Bacillus Acid-fast. Numbers increasing along with drug Tuberculosis
tuberculosis resistance; 8th most reported bacterial disease
to CDC
Mycobacterium Positive Bacillus Acid-fast. Not easily transmissible, requires Leprosy
leprae intimate contact with bodily secretions
Mycoplasma Positive* Bacillus - No cell wall; *stain gram-negative but Pneumonia (Mycoplasmal or
pneumonia Pleomorphic genetically related to and taxonomically primary atypical )
classified with the low G+C gram-positive
bacteria
Enterococcus spp. Positive Coccus Facultatively anaerobic enteric, naturally Most common cause of
(faecalis, faecium) resistant to penicillin; one of the 3 gm+ cocci surgical wound infections.
important as causes of nosocomial infections
Staphylococcus Positive Coccus Normal flora, coagulase +, one of the 3 gm+ Most common cause of
aureus cocci important as causes of nosocomial nosocomial pneumonia, MRSA
infections accounts for 52.3% of S.
aureus nosocomial infections.
Also causes boils (furuncles),
carbuncles (abscesses), acute
bacterial endocarditis, folliculitis,
food poisoning, impetigo, otitis
media, pimples, scalded skin
syndrome, sties, and toxic shock
syndrome.
Coagulase - Positive Coccus Normal flora, coagulase -, one of the 3 gm+ Not as invasive or toxic as S.
Staphylococcus cocci important as causes of nosocomial aureus, most important cause of
(Staphylococcus infections. nosocomial sepsis. May also
epidermidis) cause acute bacterial
endocarditis.
Streptococcus Positive Coccus Childhood vaccine, recommended for at risk Most common cause of
pneumoniae adults. pneumonia (pneumococcal
pneumonia; typical
pneumonia), most common
cause of bacterial meningitis
(pneumococcal meningitis),
otitis media; Nosocomial
pneumonia and wound infections.
Streptococcus Positive Coccus 10th most reported bacterial disease to CDC Invasive group A streptococcal
pyogenes (group infections (pneumonia,
A beta-hemolytic bacteremia in association with
streptococci) cutaneous infection, deep soft-
tissue infection - cellulitis,
myositis, necrotizing fascitis,
meningitis, peritonitis,
osteomyelitis, septic arthritis,
puerperal fever, neonatal sepsis,
and nonfocal bacteremia). Also
causes strep throat, scarlet
fever, rheumatic fever,
impetigo, otitis media, and
erysipelas.