Lecture 17_250 review

Exam 2 Review Topics

Lecture 17: Bacterial Pathogens

• General Pathogenesis

  • Understanding how bacterial pathogens cause disease, including their mechanisms of infection and factors that contribute to virulence.

• Key Bacterial Pathogens

  • Streptococcus pneumoniae

    • Commonly associated with pneumonia, meningitis, otitis media, and sinusitis.

    • Signs/Symptoms: Cough, fever, chest pain, difficulty breathing, and chills.

  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae

    • Known for causing atypical pneumonia, particularly in young adults.

    • Signs/Symptoms: Persistent dry cough, fever, fatigue, and sore throat.

  • Clostridium difficile

    • Causes antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) and pseudomembranous colitis (PMC).

    • Signs/Symptoms: Severe diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever, and dehydration.

  • Escherichia coli (E. coli)

    • Several pathotypes with distinct diseases:

      • EPEC (Enteropathogenic E. coli)

        • Causes watery diarrhea, primarily in infants and children.

      • EHEC (Enterohemorrhagic E. coli)

        • Associated with severe hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).

        • Symptoms include bloody diarrhea, severe abdominal pain, and vomiting.

      • UPEC (Uropathogenic E. coli)

        • A major cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs).

        • Signs/Symptoms: Frequent urination, burning sensation when urinating, and lower abdominal pain.

  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae

    • Causes gonorrhea, a sexually transmitted infection.

    • Signs/Symptoms: Painful urination, unusual discharge, and can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) if untreated.

  • Staphylococcus aureus

    • Known for a range of infections, including skin infections, pneumonia, and sepsis.

    • Signs/Symptoms: Red, swollen areas on the skin, fever, and sometimes nausea and vomiting.

  • Borrelia burgdorferi

    • The causative agent of Lyme disease, transmitted by tick bites.

    • Signs/Symptoms: Rash (erythema migrans), fever, fatigue, joint pain, and muscle aches.