Bacteria W/O cell walls

Chlamydia

Chlamydia

Gram (-), obligately intracellular organisms. They are energy parasites and require host ATP.

What are the 2 forms of Chlamydia

Elementary bodies (EB): metabolically inactive infectious form; do not have peptidoglycan

Reticulate bodies(RB): metabolically active noninfectious form; minimal rings of peptidoglycan

Chlamydia trachomatis

Humans are the only host. They enter the body through tiny abrasions in mucous membranes.

Diagnosed: via nucleic acid testing, antigen or antibody detection.

Oculogenital Chlamydia Male

Symp: “silent infection” initially, penile discharge, pain with urination, pain and swelling in one or both testicles.

Prog: treatment is effective 95% of the time.

Epi: People under 25, new or multiple sexual partners, partners who have another STI. Prevention: universal yearly screening.

Oculogenital Chlamydia Female

Sym: “silent infection” initially, vaginal discharge, pain with urination. Prog: 10-15% of untreated females develop PID.

Epi: People under 25, new or multiple sexual partners, partners who have another STI. Prevention: universal yearly screening.

Oculogenital Chlamydia Newborn

Sym: 5-14days: Swollen eyelids, purulent discharge; pneumonia

Prog: 20-30% require 2nd round of treatment, good with treatment.

Epi: Infants are infected via vaginal birth to an infected person. Prevention: universal screening.

Oculogenital Chlamydia Ocular

Sym: Conjunctivitis, purulent discharge, keratitis, scarring with untreated infection

Prog: good with treatment, long term leads to scarring and vision loss.

Epi: via autoinoculation by a person with a genital infection. Prevention: universal screening.

Lymphogranuloma venereum

Sym: swollen lymph nodes, rectal discharge, anal pain, constipation, small painless genital ulcer.

Prog: excellent with prompt treatment. Epi: found worldwide, but see mostly in the caribbean, C. america, southeast asia and africa.

Trachoma

Sym: mild conjunctivitis, eyelid scarring, trichiasis (eyelashes turn in eye), foreign body sensation .

Prog: excellent when treated early and will not reverse scarring and vision loss.

Epi: Endemic in Africa, the middle east, south asia, and south america. Primarily in children. transmitted eye to eye via droplet, hands, etc.

Chlamydia pneumoniae

Sym: sinusitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis, community acquired pneumonia.

Prog: 4.9-9.8% mortality for pneumonia.

Epi: occur in childhood and adolescence, transmitted by respiratory droplets. humans only reservoir.

Chlamydia psititaci

Reservoir: birds. Transmitted to human via inhalation of dried bird excrement, urine or respiratory secretions.

Epi: zoo keepers, veterinarians, pet shop worker, and poultry abattoir workers. Diagnosed based on serology.

Mycoplasma

Smallest, free living bacteria, obligate or commensuals parasites, obligated anaerobic and are slow growing.

Sterols provide stability to the cell envelope. Have pleomorphic shapes.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Obligately anaerobic, humans only reservoir. Strictly a pathogen, extended asymptomatic carriage.

Spreads via respiratory droplets, outbreaks occur in crowded settings.

Walking pneumonia

Sym: onset of headaches, low-grade fever, chest soreness and nagging cough.

Prog: asymptomatic or mild and rarely fatal. Untreated can trigger asthma development.

Epi: affects all age brackets.