Diseases/Pathogen vs Associated Symptoms

Gas Gangrene; Clostridium perfringens

An open wound with severe pain, rapid swelling and edema turning pale/gray turning black. The tissues have a crackling noise/feeling when palpated (crepitus)

Bacillus anthracis; Cutaneous anthrax

Black ulceration on the skin (not painful), swollen, red

Streptococcus pneumoniae; Pneumonia

Cough, fever, chest pain, difficulty breathing

Gonorrhea; Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Female patient: Abnormal vaginal discharge, pain with sexual activity; 50% asymptomatic

Inhalational anthrax; Bacillus anthracis

Fever, cough, chest pain, rapidly progresses to severe breathing difficulties; abnormal chest X-rays pleural effusion and a widening of the space between the lungs (swollen lymph nodes)

Meningitis; Streptococcus pneumoniae

Fever, headache, stiff neck; generally children and immunocompromised

Meningitis; Neisseria meningitidis

Fever, headache, stiff neck; infants, children, adolescents, young adults, particularly if living in close quarters (dorms, military barracks)

Rheumatic fever; Streptococcus pyogenes (GAS)

fever, joint pain, heart murumur, shortness of breath, skin rash, previously had a sore throat

Toxic shock syndrome; Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes

High fever, red rash, low blood pressure, vomiting, diarrhea

Gonorrhea; Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Male patient: Painful urination, pus filled discharge from the penis

Clostridium tetani; Tetanus

Muscle stiffness, jaw cramping, muscle spasms, symptoms often starting in the face

Clostridium botulinum; Foodborne botulism

Muscle weakness, blurred vision, difficulty swallowing starting in the face

Neonatal meningitis; Streptococcus agalactiae, Listeria monocytogenes

Newborns; fever, poor feeding, irritability, lethargic, seizures, stiffness in neck, possible swelling of fontenels

Urinary tract infection (UTI); Enterococcus faecalis and E. faecium (Enterococcus spp.)

Painful urination, frequent urination, lower abdominal pain; A patient in the hospital

Urinary tract infection (UTI); Staphylococcus saprophyticus

Painful urination, frequent urination, lower abdominal pain; A young sexually active woman that hasn't been hospitalized

Clostridium botulinum; Infant botulism

Poor feeding, constipation, weak cry, muscle weakness

Streptococcus pyogenes; Scarlet fever

Red rash, high fever, sore throat, strawberry tongue

Impetigo; Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes

Red sores, fluid filled blisters, itching, honey-colored crusts; generally appearing around the nose and mouth; more common in children

Pseudomembranous colitis; Clostridioides difficile

Severe diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, blood in stool; The patient has been on an antibiotic for a UTI.

Diptheria; Corynebacterium diphtheriae

Sore throat, fever, swollen glands, thick gray coating in throat

Pharyngitis; Streptococcus pyogenes (GAS)

Sore throat, fever, swollen lymph nodes, headache

Necrotizing fasciitis, Streptococcus pyogenes (GAS)

Unbroken skin becomes painful, red and warm to the touch. Over time the area becomes swollen, turns purple/black and intensely painful with a high fever. Tissues do not have a crackling noise/feeling when palpated (crepitus).

Septic shock; any of the pathogens that often cause sepsis

High fever, low blood pressure, rapid heart rate, decreased urine output, cold and clammy skin, organ dysfunction

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC); Can be associated with other things but in our case endotoxin in the blood (Gram-negative bacteremia)

abnormal bleeding, blood in urine/stool, bleeding gums, easy bruising, petechiae and ecchymoses (red and purple spots)

Acute glomerulonephritis, Streptococcus pyogenes (GAS)

puffy face, shortness of breath, hypertension, decreased urine output, edema, fatigue, previous sore throat