Bacteria and diseases/symptoms

Clostridium tetani

Disease:

Tetanus (Lockjaw)

Symptom:

Instant paralysis beginning at wound; muscle contraction; jaw paralysis; fatal without treatment; infection from contaminated wounds (soil/dirt).

Clostridium botulinum

Disease:

Botulism

Symptoms: 

Paralysis of intestinal tract as it empties; uncontrollable diarrhea; can lead to death; toxin, not bacteria, causes disease.

Clostridium perfringens

Disease:

Gas gangrene

Symptoms: 

Tissue rots; black discoloration; wound enlarges and spreads; “toxicity – not paralytic”; diabetics more at risk; fatal before antibiotics.

Clostridioides difficile (C. diff)

Disease:

Severe diarrheal disease

Symptoms: 

Severe diarrhea; abdominal cramps and pain; highly contagious; spreads in nursing homes/assisted living; life-threatening; older adults and healthcare workers at risk.

Staphylococcus saprophyticus

Disease:

Urinary tract infection (community-acquired)

Symptoms: 

Occurs when organism enters sterile urinary tract; common in young, sexually active females; infections outside urinary tract rare.

Staphylococcus epidermidis

Disease:

Opportunistic wound infection

Symptoms: 

Normal flora of skin and mucous membranes (respiratory system); non-pathogenic but found in wounds due to association with skin.

Staphylococcus aureus

Disease:

Skin infections (boils, pimples, impetigo); Pneumonia; Carditis; Meningitis; Arthritis; MRSA/VRSA; Scalded Skin Syndrome; Toxic Shock Syndrome; Food poisoning

Symptoms: 

TSS: High fever, rash, vomiting, diarrhea, cardiovascular collapse, kidney failure, possible death.  Food poisoning: Severe but short-lived diarrhea and vomiting.  Skin infections: Boils, pus, peeling/flaking skin

Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A)

Disease:

Strep throat; Otitis media; Mastitis; Impetigo; Rheumatic fever; Scarlet fever; Necrotizing fasciitis; Streptococcal toxic shock-like syndrome

Symptoms: 

Strep throat: sore throat, enlarged tonsils, exudates, tender lymph nodes, mild fever.  Rheumatic fever: tissue destruction in heart, joints, kidneys. Scarlet fever: pink-red rash, high fever (≥103°F), small blood vessel damage.  Necrotizing fasciitis: rapid tissue death, blackened edges, spreading infection.  Toxic shock-like syndrome: fever, rash, necrotizing infection, bacteremia, respiratory distress (ARDS), organ failure; 20–60% mortality.

Streptococcus pneumoniae

Disease:

Pneumonia; Meningitis

Symptoms: 

Wet cough; strong inflammatory response in alveoli; reduced lung function from fluid and phagocytes; untreated 30% fatal, treated 5–10% fatal.

Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B)

Disease:

Neonatal sepsis/meningitis; Postpartum infection (endometritis → pelvic abscess, septic shock); Septic arthritis

Symptoms: 

Neonates: sepsis, fever, meningitis, respiratory distress, lethargy, hypotension.  Adults: postpartum infection, pelvic abscess, septic shock. Timing: early onset (≤5 days) or late onset (7 days–3 months).

Streptococcus bovis

Disease:

Mastitis (mostly in animals)

Symptoms: 

No human symptoms listed

Streptococcus salivarius / mitis

Disease:

Dental caries (tooth decay)

Symptoms: 

Ferments sugars → lactic acid → enamel erosion; exposes pulp/root to infection by other organisms.

Enterococcus faecalis

Disease:

(normal intestinal flora)

Symptoms: 

Isolated from feces; generally non-pathogenic.

Micrococcus luteus

Disease:

(non-pathogenic)

Symptoms: 

Normal skin flora (especially extremities); found in soil; generally non-pathogenic.