Viral & Bacterial Buzzwords - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering pathogens, diseases, virulence factors, and lab media from the notes.

Staphylococcus aureus

Gram-positive, catalase-positive, coagulase-positive cocci; often carries Protein A; can be MRSA via MecA gene; treated with MRSA-directed antibiotics (e.g., vancomycin, linezolid).

Protein A

Staphylococcus aureus virulence factor that binds the Fc region of IgG to prevent opsonization.

MecA

Gene encoding penicillin-binding protein 2a; confers methicillin resistance (MRSA) in Staphylococcus aureus.

MRSA

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; resistant to many beta-lactam antibiotics due to MecA gene.

Vancomycin

Glycopeptide antibiotic used to treat MRSA infections by inhibiting cell wall synthesis.

Linezolid

Oxazolidinone antibiotic used to treat MRSA infections; inhibits 50S ribosomal subunit.

Staphylococcus epidermidis

Coagulase-negative, catalase-positive Staphylococcus; part of normal skin flora; associated with prosthetic joints and catheters.

Cutibacterium acnes

Former Propionibacterium; lipophilic; grows in sebum; commonly linked to acne.

Sebum

Fatty, oily secretion of sebaceous glands that supports growth of lipophilic bacteria like Cutibacterium acnes.

Streptococcus pyogenes

Beta-hemolytic, catalase-negative group A streptococcus; carries M protein; can cause scarlet fever and toxic shock–like syndromes.

M Protein

Major virulence factor of Streptococcus pyogenes; helps prevent phagocytosis.

Scarlet fever

Rash associated with Streptococcus pyogenes infection; often with desquamation.

Toxic Shock Syndrome (Streptococcus pyogenes)

TSS caused by Streptococcus pyogenes; can involve desquamation after rash.

Bacillus anthracis

Gram-positive, spore-forming rod; causes anthrax; cutaneous infection features a painless black eschar.

Cutaneous anthrax

Infection by Bacillus anthracis presenting with a painless black eschar at the site.

Clostridium perfringens

Anaerobic, gram-positive rod; produces alpha toxin; causes gas gangrene; lecithinase activity detectable on egg yolk agar.

Gas gangrene

Myonecrosis with gas production, often due to Clostridium perfringens infection.

Alpha toxin

Alpha-toxin (lecithinase) produced by Clostridium perfringens; contributes to tissue destruction.

Egg Yolk Agar

Medium used to detect lecithinase (alpha toxin) activity of Clostridium perfringens (opaque halo).

Arthritis of the knee (S. epidermidis)

Staphylococcus epidermidis can cause septic arthritis, notably in prosthetic joints (knee).

Arthritis of the knee (Neisseria gonorrhoeae)

Neisseria gonorrhoeae can cause septic arthritis, including knee infections.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Gram-negative diplococcus; grows on chocolate agar; causes gonorrhea and can cause septic arthritis.

Growth on Chocolate Agar

Neisseria gonorrhoeae grows well on chocolate agar due to enriched factors.

Eikenella corrodens

Gram-negative rod from oral flora; associated with human bites and clenched-fist injuries; has a bleach-like odor; grows on chocolate agar.

Bleach smell

Distinctive odor associated with Eikenella corrodens infection.

Human Bites

Eikenella corrodens is a common cause of infection after human bites.

Fist Fights

Clenched-fist injuries can introducEikenella corrodens into tissue.

Pasteurella multocida

Gram-negative rod from cat bites; causes cellulitis and local infection.

Bartonella henselae

Causes cat-scratch disease; visualized with silver stains (Warthin-Starry); virulence factors include BadA protein and Deformin; may produce a green pigment in some contexts.

Silver Stain

Staining method (including Warthin-Starry) used to visualize Bartonella henselae.

Warthin-Starry stain

Silver stain used to detect Bartonella species (cat-scratch disease agent).

Cat Bite, Scratch, Lick

Clinical context for Bartonella henselae infection (cat-scratch disease).

BadA Protein

Adhesin of Bartonella henselae that promotes binding to host cells.

Deformin

A Bartonella henselae virulence factor noted in some sources.

Green Pigment (Pseudomonas aeruginosa)

Pseudomonas aeruginosa produces a distinctive green pigment (pyocyanin).

Burn Wounds

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common cause of infection in burn wounds.

Fruity Smell

Pseudomonas aeruginosa often has a grape-like (fruity) odor.

Vibrio vulnificus

Gram-negative curved rod; thrives in salty environments; associated with seafood-associated wound infections.

Salty Environment

Vibrio vulnificus growth is favored by high-salt environments.

TCBS Agar

Thiosulfate-Citrate-Bile-Salt agar; selective/differential medium for Vibrio species (e.g., V. vulnificus).

Spirochete

Borrelia burgdorferi is a spirochete; corkscrew-shaped bacterium.

Tick Vector

Borrelia burgdorferi is transmitted by ticks (Ixodes species in many regions).

Borrelia burgdorferi

Cause of Lyme disease; spirochete transmitted by ticks.

Erythema migrans

Early localized Lyme disease rash: expanding red rash, often with central clearing.

Bulls-Eye Rash

Classic erythema migrans with central clearing seen in Lyme disease.

Obligate Intracellular

Rickettsia rickettsii are obligate intracellular bacteria.

Rickettsia rickettsii

Causes Rocky Mountain spotted fever; transmitted by ticks; obligate intracellular bacterium.

Thayer Martin Agar

Selective medium for isolating Neisseria species (N. gonorrhoeae, N. meningitidis) by inhibiting other flora.

Centipetal Rash

Rash pattern in Rocky Mountain spotted fever that can appear from extremities toward the trunk (centripetal spread).

Unilateral Parotitis

Parotid gland swelling on one side, commonly associated with Mumps.

Mumps

Viral illness causing parotitis; may cause pain when eating acidic foods and fever.

Pain When Consuming Acidic Food/Drink (Mumps symptom)

Painful parotid swelling aggravated by sour foods, characteristic of mumps.

Measles (Rubeola)

Viral infection with 3 C’s (cough, coryza, conjunctivitis); Koplik spots; rash starts at hairline and progresses downward.

Koplik Spots

Small blue-white spots on the buccal mucosa seen in measles (rubeola).

Rash Starting at Hairline

Measles rash begins at the hairline and spreads downward.

Low Grade Fever (Measles)

Low fever early in measles infection.

Rubella

German measles; rash starts on the face with posterior auricular lymphadenopathy; Forchheimer spots can appear in the soft palate.

Forchheimer Spots

Petechial spots on the soft palate seen in rubella infection.

Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease

Viral illness (often Coxsackie A16) with vesicular lesions on hands, feet, and mouth.

Latent HSV/Varicella (Latency)

Herpesviridae family viruses (HSV and Varicella Zoster) establish latency in host cells.

Grouped Vesicles on Erythematous Base

Vesicular eruption pattern seen in HSV and VZV infections.

Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)

Enveloped DNA virus causing oral/genital herpes; painful vesicles; Tzanck smear shows multinucleated giant cells.

Tzanck Smear

Cytology smear used to diagnose HSV and VZV infections by showing multinucleated giant cells.

Multinucleated Giant Cells

Cellary finding on Tzanck smear in HSV/VZV infections.

Varicella (VZV)

Chickenpox; asynchronous vesicular rash with