Bacterial Infections

What is the main treatment for bacterial infections?

Antibiotics 

• Type depends on bacteria type, infection severity, and body location 

• Resistance can develop in misuse or incomplete antibiotic treatment 

What causes impetigo and how is it transmitted?

Staphylococcus aureus and streptococcus pyogenes 

• Spread by direct contact 

What are the signs and symptoms of impetigo?

Vesicles rupture → amber crusts (around mouth/nose

• Itching (pruritus) 

• Swollen lymph nodes 

How is impetigo treated?

Topical and/or systemics antibiotics 

What causes tonsillitis/pharyngitis and what are its main symptoms?

Streptococcus pyogenes 

• Sore throat 

• Fever 

• Enlarged tonsils 

• Erythema 

• Pus (exudate) 

What two diseases can develop from strep throat complications?

Scarlet fever and rheumatic fever

What are key signs of scarlet fever?

• Red rash 

• Palatal petechiae 

• Strawberry tongue 

What are the key signs and risks of rheumatic fever?

Affects heart, joints, CNS

• may cause permanent heart valve damage

What causes tuberculosis (TB) and how is it spread?

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

• Spread by inhaling aerosol droplets

What are symptoms of TB?

• Fever

• Chills

• Fatigue

• Weight loss

• Persistent cough

• Painless oral ulcers

Forms of TB

• Primary = first lung infection (asymptomatic)

• Miliary = spreads through bloodstream

• Latent = inactive, non-contagious

• Active = symptomatic and contagious (5-10% progress)

What test detects TB exposure?

Mantoux skin test

• (Positive → chest X-ray)

What causes actinomycosis and what are its features?

Actinomyces israelli 

• Abcess draining through sinus Tracy’s 

• Yellow sulfur granules 

• Often in jaw/neck (lumpy jaw) 

How is actinomycosis treated?

Antibiotics and incision/draining

What causes syphilis and how is transmitted ?

Treponema palladium

• Sexual contact, blood, or from mother to fetus

• Treated with penicillin 

3 stages of syphilis 

• Primary: painless chancre 

• Secondary: rash, mucous patches (infectious) 

• Tertiary: gumma lesions, may affect heart or nerves 

What are the oral signs of congenital syphilis

• Hutchinson’s incisors (screwdriver shape)

• Mulberry molars ( irregular occlusal surface)

What causes ANUG and what are its symptoms?

Fusobacterium nucelatum and Borrelia vincentii 

• Necrotic, “punched-out” papilla 

• Fou

How is ANUG treated?

• Debridement 

• Chlorohexidine rinse 

• Antibiotics 

Peritonitis

Infection around partially erupted tooth (mandibular 3rd molar)

• Caused by food/bacteria trapped under operculum

What are the symptoms and treatment for pericoronitis?

• Pain + swelling

• Trismus

• Treated with irrigation, extraction or operculectomy

Osteomyelitis 

Inflammation of bone/bone marrow from bacterial infection after extraction or trauma 

What are symptoms and features of osteomyelitis?

• Pain, fever, swelling

• Possible paresthesia 

• Chronic cases may show radiolucent areas 

• Sequestrum (dead bone fragment)