Question | Answer |
Atypical pneumonia is caused by: | Mycoplasma-Chlamydia-Legionella
Gram -ve bacteria
Few LPS |
Symptoms of atypical pneumonia: | Dry cough & mild fever often persist for weeks |
What is the smallest known bacteria? | M. pneumonia |
Cell wall of M. pneumonia: | Lack true cell wall |
Mycoplasma pneumoniae causes | Cause serious respiratory disease and death |
How is M. pneumoniae spread? | Droplet infections |
Symptoms of M. pneumonia: | Low fever & dry cough symptoms
Eventually, Mild rashes, neurological syndromes
Acute/ Subacute Pharyngitis & Bronchitis -children, young adults |
Lab diagnosis of M. pneumoniae: | Special culture medium
Mycoplasma specific DNA by PCR
Sputum,Pleural fluid,Blood
Serological Cold-Agglutination Test: Increased Ab titers after 4-weeks |
Treatment of M. pneumoniae: | Levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, Macrolides/ Azithromycin
NO vaccine |
Characteristics of Chlamydia: | Obligate intracellular bacteria causing intracytoplasmic inclusions
Rapidly killed outside body tissues, Dryness & high temperature |
Life cycle of Chlamydia: | Infectious elementary bodies attached to lung mucosa and promoting its entry into lung tissues
Reticulate bodies developed as inclusion bodies in cytoplasm phagosomes & released new Infectious elementary bodies |
Chlamydia trachomatis is a common cause of: | Sexually transmitted disease (STD)
Nonspecific urethritis
Transmitted from mother to newborn babies
Severe pneumonia
Eye infection
Conjunctivitis & Trachoma |
Chlamydia pneumonia is related only to; | The respiratory tract |
C. Pneumonia is transmitted by: | Resp. droplets |
Symptoms of C. pneumonia: | Mild respiratory symptoms, dry irritating prolonged cough, nasal congestion with/without fever
No blood sepsis
Infection in adults often asymptomatic, mild, may include sore throat, headache, fever, dry cough.
Rare Acute infection |
Diagnosis of C. pneumonia: | Sputum, throat-nasal swabs, MaCoy Cell Culture, ELISA Specific antibodies, PCR |
Treatment of C. pneumonia by: | Macrolides, Tetracyclines, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin
NO Vaccine |
Characteristics of Legionella: | Flagella
Widely spread in cold natural water bodies and wet soil
Facultative Anaerobes
Grow in Cold/Hot water(0- 80C)
Transmitted by inhalation of contaminated water drops
Cause single cases /more outbreak of disease |
Incubation period of Legionella: | 2-10 days |
Symptoms of Legionella: | High fever
Nonproductive dry cough
Mild fever at start
Blood sepsis
Shortness of breath
Chest & Muscles pain
Joint pain
Diarrhea
Renal failure |
Risk factors of L. pneumonia: | Heavy cigarette smoking
Old age
Underlying diseases such as renal disease, cancer, diabetes, chronic pulmonary obstructions, suppressed immune systems
Corticosteroid therapy
High death rate in patients with presence lung obstructions |
Diagnosis of L. pneumonia: | Special culture media.. blood/urine specimen for detection Specific antibodies or Antigens by PCR, or ELlSA |
Treatment of L. pneumonia: | Macrolides/azithromycin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin
NO Vaccine |