Aerobic Gram-Positive Bacilli: What’s That Organism?

Practice fill-in-the-blank flashcards covering morphology, clinical significance, treatment, and diagnostic tests for aerobic gram-positive bacilli.

On SBA, Nocardia produces sulfur granules that look like __________.

bread crumbs

Nocardia is partially acid-fast and can be stained pink using a __________ Stain.

Modified Acid Fast

In contrast to Nocardia, Streptomyces tests __________ for the Modified Acid Fast stain.

negative

The colonies of Bacillus anthracis are gamma-hemolytic, very sticky "Egg Whites" like Morangs, and sometimes have comma projections that look like __________.

Medusa's head

On Egg yolk Agar, Bacillus cereus produces __________.

lecinthinase

For Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, TSI testing reveals positive H2S and a "test tube brush like" substance in gelatin at __________.

$$22\,^{\circ}\text{C}$$

Arcanobacterium haemolyticum produces __________ which inhibits Beta-hemolysis from S. aureus during a CAMP test.

Phospholipase D

On a wet prep for Gardnerella vaginalis, bacteria-covered epithelial cells are identified as __________.

Clue Cells

The "Whiff" Test for Gardnerella vaginalis yields a "fishy" smell after adding __________ KOH to discharge.

10%

Cutaneous Diphtheria presents as non-healing ulcers found in the __________.

tropics

Diphtheria can be prevented using the __________ vaccination for children and Tdap for adults.

Dtap

The three ways to classify aerobic gram-positive bacilli are Catalase, spore formation, and __________.

branching

When grown on Cysteine-Tellurite Blood Agar (CTBA), Corynebacterium diphtheriae colonies appear __________.

brown or black

Corynebacterium diphtheriae are short, club-shaped, palisading gram-positive bacilli that often look like "__________".

Chinese lettering

The positive motility pattern of Listeria monocytogenes in medium looks like an __________.

umbrella mushroom

Listeria monocytogenes causes foodborne illnesses particularly from lunch meat, deli meat, and __________.

soft cheeses

Non-Spore Forming, Non-Branching, Catalase (+), and Non-motile. What’s that organism?

Corynebacterium diphtheria

Non-Spore Forming, Non-Branching, Catalase (+), and Motile. What’s that organism?

Listeria monocytogenes

Spore Forming, Non-branching, and Catalase Positive Gram Positive Bacilli. What organism are they?

Bacillus anthracis and Bacillus cereus

Spore Forming, Beta-hemolytic on SBA, and motile. What organism is it?

B. Cereus

Spore Forming, Gamma-hemolytic on SBA, and Non-motile. What organism is it?

B. anthracis

Non-Spore Forming, Branching and Catalase (+). What are the organisms with these characteristics?

Nocardia spp., and Streptomyces spp.

Non-Spore Forming, Branching and Catalase (+), Non-Motile, Sulfur Granules on SBA, Stained pink on Partially Acid Fast with Modified Acid Fast stain, and looked like a tooth/bread crumbs. What’s that organism?

A Nocardia spp.

Non-Spore Forming, Branching and Catalase (+), Non-Motile, waxy heap in all different colors on SBA, cannot be stained on Modified Acid Fast. What’s that organism?

A Streptomyces spp.

Non-Spore Forming, Non-branching and Catalase (=). What are the organisms with these characteristics?

E. rhusiopathiae, G. vaginalis, and A. haemolyticum

Non-Spore Forming, Non-branching and Catalase (=), Non-motile, H2S (+) on TSI, on SBA after 24hrs. pinpoint and Gamma Hemolytic, and after 48 hours, two different looking colonies with Alpha-hemolysis. What’s that organism?

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae

Non-Spore Forming, Non-branching and Catalase (=), Non-motile, H2S (-) on TSI, on SBA Beta-hemolytic after 48-72hrs., CAMP Test (+). What’s that organism?

Arcanobacterium haemolyticum

Non-Spore Forming, Non-branching and Catalase (=), Non-motile, H2S (-) on TSI, on SBA Gamma-hemolytic, and on V agar Beta-hemolytic, Wet prep show’s clue cell on top of epithelial cells and Whiff Test causes fishy smell, and EIA/Rapid Test/PCR (+). What’s that organism?

Gardnerella vaginalis