6: Anaerobic Bacteria

what is a virulence factor, often a neurotoxin or tissue-degrading enzyme, that is secreted by anaerobic bacteria?

exotoxin

what type of pathogens either come from

1. normal flora that escape their proper compartment and form an abscess at a new site

2. soil organisms that enter the body either through wounds or consumption of vacuum-packed food

anaerobic

what is a gram-positive, spore-forming rod whose primary virulence factor is tetanospasmin and whose reservoir is soil?

Clostridium tetani

what is a soil organism that causes botulism and whose primary virulence factor is a neurotoxin?

Clostridium botulinum

what is a gram-positive anaerobic bacterium that is part of the normal flora and can cause pseudomembranous colitis?

C. difficile

what does abscess disease treatment begin with?

surgical care (draining/debriding)

what does toxigenic disease treatment begin with?

antitoxin

what does treatment of anaerobic infection conclude with?

antibiotics

what are the major pathogenic anaerobes?

Clostridium, gram-negative anaerobic bacilli, and actinomyces

which major pathogenic anaerobes are gram positive?

clostridia and actinomyces

what pathogenic anaerobes are normal flora?

GNAB, actinomyces, and C. difficile