neisseria gen characteristics
aerobic, capno, dpc
ox pos, cat pos
except for n. elongate, bacilliformis, weaver
where is neisseria normal flora? what are the exceptions?
upper resp and urogenital tracts
gonorrhoeae is always pathogen
meningitidis can be in URT but is invasive pathogen
n. gonorrhoeae
humans only natural host (asymptomatic carriers)
transmitted via sexual contact
nationally reportable disease
ages 20-24
virulence factors of n. gonorhoeae
receptors for human transferrin
pili
IgA protease
major outer membrane porin proteins
capsule
lipooligosaccharides
por A/B - n. gonorhhoeae
channel for nutrients to enter and waste products to exit the cell
effective against inflammatory response and complement killing
protein II (Opa) - n. gonorrhoeae
facilitate adherence to phagocytic and epi cells
protein III - n. gonorrhoeae
block host serum bactericidal action
gonorrhea
acute pyogenic infection of urogenital tract, pharynx, conjunctiva
less likely: disseminated infections, anal canal
incubation period: 2-7 days
gonorrhea in males
90% symptomatic
dysuria, urethral discharge
complications: epididymitis, prostatitis
gonorrhea in females
50% symptomatic
infects endocervix
dysuria, cervical discharge, lower abd pain
complications: PID (sterility), ectopic pregnancy, perihepatitis (fitz-hugh-curtis)
blood borne dissemination - n. gonorrhoeae
fever, rash, gonococcal arthritis
SPS inhibits growth so use gelatin for blood cx
ophthalmia neonatorum - n. gonorrhoeae
occurs during vaginal delivery so we give erythromycin drops at birth
blindness if not treated
extragenital infections of n. gonorrhoeae
pharyngitis
anorectal infections (from proximity of genital infection in women)
ocular infections in adults
asymptomatic/nonspecific symptoms
specimens for n. gonorrhoeae
urethra (males): insert swab, slowly rotate (dacron/rayon)
endocervix
rectal
oral/pharyngeal
eye
blood/joint fluids
specimen collection for n. gonorrhoeae
dacron/rayon (cotton and calcium alginate are toxic)
plate immediately in transport media (jembec, gonopak, amies, transgrow)
swabs placed in amies with charcoal and plated in 6 hrs
media - n. gonorrhoeae
CHOC with inhibitors for GP/GN/yeasts
capno incubator, generating pouch
TM or MTM (vanc, colistin, nystatin, trimethoprim)
morphology of n. gonorrhoeae
GN kidney bean dpc
MTM: small, gray tan, translucent, raised
read at 3 days
immunologic assays - n. gonorrhoeae
coagglutination: monoclonal Abs bound to dead s. aureus
agglutination = pos
maldi tof
fluorescent Ab testing: monoclonal Abs bound to Por protein
nucleic acid assays - n. gonorrhoeae
rapid, preferred for detection
inc sensitivity, specificity
first morning urine
no AST b/c no organism recovery
antimicrobial resistance - n. gonorrhoeae
PPNG (penicillinase producing)
altered PBP
resistant to tetra, spectinomycin, fluoros
treat with cephalosporins
n. meningitidis
found only in humans on mucosal surfaces
can be commensal or invasive pathogen
infants and adolescents
transmission of n. meningitidis
resp droplets: close contact, crowded living conditions
incubation period 1-10 days
meningitis - n. meningitidis
frontal headache, stiff neck, confusion, photophobia
10-15% fatality
meningococcemia - n. meningitidis
purpura, petechial rash
tachy, hypotension
fulminant disease - n. meningitidis
spreads rapidly = DIC, septic shock
hemorrhage in adrenal glands (waterhouse friderichsen syndrome)
death in 12-48 hrs
specimen for n. meningitidis
CSF, blood, NP swabs/aspirates
conc CSF
inhibited by SPS so use different blood cx method
morph of n. meningitidis
colonies larger then n. gonorrhoeae at 18hrs
smooth, moist, glistening, tan
grows on CHOC, BAP, selective
treatment for n. meningitidis
penicillin
prophylaxis with cipro, ceftriaxone, rifampin
meningococcal vaccine
18-23 yrs old
military, asplenic pts, lab scientists
moraxella catarrhalis
normal flora of resp tract: opportunistic pathogen only found in humans
URTIs: healthy ppl
LRTIs: COPD pts
3rd common cause of ear/sinus infections in kids
rarely: endocarditis, meningitis, bacterial tracheitis
specimen for m. catarrhalis
middle ear effusion
nasopharynx
sinus, sputum, bronchial aspirates
morph of m. catarrhalis
hockey puck colony, older = wagon wheel
m. catarrhalis biochemicals
ox pos
butyrate esterase pos
DNase pos
treatment of m. catarrhalis
most produce beta lactamase (resistant to amp/amox)
amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, cephalosporins, azithro, quinonlines, STX
nonpathogenic neisseria
normal flora if in resp specimens
rarely cause disease (opportunistic)
if from sterile site: need to ID
oxidase test
tests for cytochrome oxidase via tetramethyl-p-phenylene-diamine-dihydrochloride
purple color = pos
superoxol test
catalase with 30% H2O2 (hazardous)
n. gonorrhoeae is pos
all other neisseria are neg
what will n. gonorrhoeae grow on?
CHOC, TM
what will n. meningitidis grow on?
BAP V, CHOC, TM
what will n. lactamica grow on?
BAP, CHOC, TM, NA
what will nonpathogenic neisseria and m. catarrhalis grow on?
BAP, CHOC, NA
CTA - cystine trypticase soy agar
cystine supports fastidious growth
semisolid contains 1% of carb
pattern of utilization speciates neisseria
phenol red
read 24-72 hrs
CTA/enzyme substrate results of n. gonorrhoeae
glucose pos
hydroxypropylaminopeptidase = pink/red
CTA/enzyme substrate results of n. meningitidis
glucose, maltose pos
gamma glutamylaminopeptidase = yellow
CTA/enzyme substrate results of n. lactamica
glucose, maltose, lactose pos
beta galactosidase = blue
CTA results of n. sicca
glucose, maltose, sucrose pos
CTA/enzyme substrate results of m. catarrhalis
all carbs neg
no enzyme = clear
enzyme substrate test
rapid ID of pathogenic neisseria/m. cat
tests for enzyme production
butyrate esterase test
enzyme reacts with disk impregnated with indoxyl butyrate substrate
hydrolysis releases indoxyl + O2 = indigo color (m. cat)
all neisseria neg = no rxn
CLSI - n. gonorrhoeae
presumptive:
GN dpc
ox pos
cat strong pos (superoxol pos)
additional test: neg gamma and beta enzymes
notes: must grow on selective media or no growth on mueller hinton/tryptic soy agar
CLSI - n. meningitidis
presumptive:
GN dpc
ox pos
glistening nonhemolytic growth on BAP
additional tests: gamma enzyme pos
notes: work in BSC, highly infectious
CLSI - lactamica
presumptive:
GN dpc
ox pos
grayish nonhemolytic on BAP
additional tests: beta enzyme pos
CLSI - m. catarrhalis
presumptive:
GN dpc
ox pos, cat pos
entire nonhemolytic colony moves intact when pushed
additional tests: butyrate pos OR indoxyl acetate pos