Gram Positive Bacilli of Medical Importance

Bacilli

Rod-shaped cells, can form chains.

Endospore-formers

Bacilli that produce resistant spores.

Non-Endospore-formers

Bacilli that do not produce spores.

Bacillus genus

Gram +, endospore-forming, motile, rod-shaped.

Bacillus cereus

Causes food poisoning, produces less lethal toxins.

Bacillus anthracis

Causes anthrax, has central endospores.

Anthrax

Disease with three types: cutaneous, gastrointestinal, pulmonary.

Cutaneous anthrax

Least lethal, enters through skin.

Gastrointestinal anthrax

Caused by ingestion of spores.

Pulmonary anthrax

Most lethal, caused by inhalation.

Anthrax treatment

Includes antibiotics like penicillin and vaccines.

Clostridium genus

Gram +, rod-shaped, obligate anaerobes.

Clostridium perfringens

Causes gas gangrene and food poisoning.

Clostridium tetani

Causes tetanus, produces neurotoxin Tetanospasmin.

Tetanus treatment

Includes antitoxin and antibiotics.

Clostridium difficile

Causes antibiotic-associated colitis, major hospital pathogen.

Clostridium botulinum

Produces Botulinum toxin, causes botulism.

Botulism

Rare, lethal food poisoning from toxin.

Clostridial gastroenteritis

Caused by C. perfringens, rapid recovery.

Listeria monocytogenes

Causes listeriosis, grows in refrigeration.

Corynebacterium diphtheriae

Causes diphtheria, produces diphtherotoxin.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Causes tuberculosis, spreads via air droplets.

Primary tuberculosis

Initial infection, immune response surrounds tissue.

Secondary tuberculosis

Reactivation of dormant TB infection.

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis

TB spreads to organs beyond lungs.

Mycobacterium leprae

Causes leprosy, obligate parasite.

Leprosy symptoms

Numbness, muscle weakness, thickened earlobes.

Leprosy treatment

Long-term combined therapy required.

Tuberculosis treatment

Multiple antibiotics over 6-24 months.