Common disease-causing bacteria

Bacillus anthracis

Bacillus anthracis

Disease: Anthrax

Anthrax

Treatment: Ciprofloxacin or doxycycline plus additional agents; vaccine available but requires a series of six injections over 18 months

Bordetella pertussis

Disease: Whooping Cough

Whooping Cough

Treatment: Erythromycin, clarithromycin better tolerated

Borellia burgdorferi

Disease: Lyme disease, relapsing fever

Lyme disease, relapsing fever

Treatment: a tetracycline (doxycycline) or semisynthetic penicillin (amoxicillin), cephalosporin (ceftriaxone or cefotaxime) for late complications

Campylobacter jejuni

Disease: Dysentery, campylobacter

Dysentery, campylobacter

Treatment: Usually self-limiting; oral rehydration

Chlamydophila pneumoniae

Disease: Pneumonia (chlamydial)

Pneumonia (chlamydial)

Treatment: Cephalosporin (Rocephin) +/- macrolide (clarithromycin or azithromycin) OR fluroquinolone (ciprofloxacin) +/- tetracycline (doxycycline)

Chlamydophila trachomitis

Disease: Urethritis (nongonococcal), pelvic inflammatory disease

Urethritis (nongonococcal), pelvic inflammatory disease

Treatment: Cephalosporin (Rocephin) +/- macrolide (clarithromycin or azithromycin) OR fluroquinolone (ciprofloxacin) +/- tetracycline (doxycycline)

Clostridium botulinum

Disease: Botulism; wound botulism

Botulism; wound botulism

Treatment: Antitoxin

Clostridium difficile

Disease: diarrhea, nosocomial

Diarrhea, nosocomial

Treatment: Metronidazole (Flagyl)

Clostridium perfringens

Disease: gas gangrene

Gas gangrene

Treatment: Penicillin with antitoxin; surgical removal of necrotic tissue and amputation; may treat with hyperbaric oxygen

Clostridium tetani

Disease: tetanus

Tetanus

Treatment: Antitoxin, (Tetanus Immune Globulin) penicillin

Corynebacterium diphtheriae

Disease: diphtheria

Diphtheria

Treatment: Penicillin and erythromycin in conjunction with antitoxin

Escherichia coli

Diseases: Gastroenteritis, enterotoxigenic; traveler’s diarrhea/Montezuma’s revenge

Gastroenteritis, enterotoxigenic; traveler’s diarrhea/Montezuma’s revenge

Treatment: Usually self-limiting; oral rehydration

Helicobacter pylori

Disease: Ulcer (gastric and duodenal), stomach cancer

Ulcer (gastric and duodenal), stomach cancer

Treatment: Penicillin, broad spectrum antibiotics

Legionella pneumophila

Disease: Legionellosis (pneumonia)

Legionellosis (pneumonia)

Treatment: erythromycin