toxin binds to presynaptic
nerve endings and blocks
Ach release. Causes
descending flaccid
paralysis
Clostridium tetani
In environment. Spores
have drumstick
appearance. Toxin
prevents release of
inhibitory
neurotransmitters
leading to sustained
tetanic contraction.
Causes lockjaw
syndrome
Clostridium difficile
antibiotic associated
diarrhoea and
pseudomembranous colitis
Non-spore
forming
Listeria
monocytogenes
Important pathogen in pregnant
women, neonates,
immunocompromised and elderly.
Causes foetal infection and
miscarriage
Corynebacterium diphtheriae
angular/palisade
formation
Causes diphtheria -
respiratory infection
with pseudomembrane
in throat and bull neck
Gram negative cocci
Neisseria
Neisseria
meningitidis
Vaccines for
A, B and C
serotypes
available B
most
important for
children
Endotoxin
causes
vascular
necrosis and
haemorrhage
Neisseria gonorrhoea
causes urethritis in men and
pelvic inflammatory disease in
women Rarely can cause
septic arthritis or bacteraemia
Ophthalmia neonatorum -
form of conjunctivitis
contracted by the baby
during vaginal birth if the
mother has gonorrhoea or
chlamydia
Gram negative bacilli
Food borne pathogens
Shigella
gastroenteritis with blood
and mucus in diarrhoea.
very low infectious dose
(10-100)
S
dysenteriae
Shiga
toxin
Salmonella
Diarrhoeal disease
Typhoid
S typhi and S
paratyphi
Normal gut flora
Escherichia coli
Commensal of intestinal tract.
Common cause of UTI infections
Commonest cause of gram
negative bacteraemia
Pathogenic E
coli
Enterotoxigenic E coli
Cholera-like symptoms
Enteropathogenic E coli
infantile gastroenteritis
Verocytotoxin producing E coli (VTEC) - E coli
0157
Haemolytic-uraemic
syndrome and
thrombotic
thrombocytopaenic
purpura
Enterobacter
Klebsiella
Proteus
Serratia
Pseudomonas aeurginosa
leg ulcers
Infection in burns
Bronchiectasis
Big problem in CF
Very resistant
Small gram negative bacilli/cocco-bacilli
Haemophilus influenzae
Epiglottitis,
meningitis, lower
respiratory tract
infections, otitis
media