Bacterial Diseases

Page 339: Table 25 – 1 & Table 25 – 2

Pathogenicity

• “the state of producing or being able to produce pathological changes and disease”

Staphylococcus(Page 342)

• “a genus of gram-negative, nonmotile, opportunistic bacteria which tend to aggregate in irregular, grape-like clusters”

• Implications for the Embalmer: page 343

Readings Question #1

• Staphylococcus aureus is the most pathogenic of the staphylococci. What are its toxins capable of doing? What enzymes does it produce, and what is their known effect?

Staphylococcal Food Poisoning

• Page 343• caused by ingesting an enterotoxin• high resistance to heat, drying and radiation,

and high osmotic pressures• inhabitant of nasal passages…contaminates

the hands…..readily enters food• mechanical vectors• mayonnaise, cream sauces

Skin and Wound Infections

• Page 344• Sty: “infected follicle of an eyelash”

Skin and Wound Infections (cont’d)

• Pimple: infected hair follicle• Abscess: more serious hair follicle infection– furuncle/boil: superficial– carbuncle: deeper

• Risk of underlying tissues becoming infected• Toxemia: toxins circulate

Scalded Skin Syndrome

Toxic Shock Syndrome

• Page 344 Color Plates 39 and 40• S. aureus growth associated with the use of a

new type of highly absorbent vaginal tampon

• swell with menstrual fluids and adhere to the vagina

• tears in the vaginal wall

Streptococcus

Page 345“spherical shaped bacteria occurring in chains”

What are the implications for the embalmer when dealing with saprophytes?

Streptococcus pneumoniae( pneumococcus)

• gram-positive ovoid bacterium• cell pairs surrounded by capsule• common cause of:

1) lobar pneumonia

2) meningitis

3) otitis media

Lobar Pneumonia

• Page 346• Readings question #2:• What is lobar pneumonia, and how is it

characterized?• What are some of the predisposing conditions

for this disease?

• penicillin and fluoroquinolones

Meningitis

• Figure 25-1 Page 346• 70% of the population are healthy carriers• Gram-positive encapsulated diplococcus• Leading cause of bacterial meningitis• Most cases between 1 month and 4 years• Broad-spectrum cephalosporins• CSF obtained by a spinal tap• Vaccine: Pneumococcal Conjugated Vaccine

Otitis Media

• 85% before 3 years of age (Eustachian Tubes)

Streptococcus pyogenes

• Page 348 Color Plates 43 and 44• Scarlet Fever: streptococcal pharyngitis• Septic Sore Throat: respiratory secretions– penicillin

• Puerperal Sepsis: Childbirth/Childbed Fever• Rheumatic Fever: arthritis and fever – 50% inflammation of the heart– penicillin– Syndenham’s chorea (St. Vitus’Dance)

Clostridium

• Page 351 • obligate anaerobes• rod-shaped cells that contain endospores

• Clostridium botulinum: botulin• Note the bullet points on page 351!!

Readings Question 3(Page 352)

• Clostridium tetani causes what bacterial infection? Describe the characteristics of this microbe. Where is it found? What are its symptoms, and what causes them?

Clostridium perfringens

• Pages 352 and 353• gram-positive, endospore-forming anaerobe• saprophyte• responsible for:– Gas gangrene– Tissue Gas (post-mortem)– Food Intoxication

Gas Gangrene

Gas Gangrene

Readings Question #4

Clostridium perfringens is the causative agent of a postmortem condition known as tissue gas.

What factors may result in this condition in the decedent?

Food Intoxication

• Clostridium perfringens Gastroenteritis: one of the more common forms of food poisoning in the United States

• improper handling of meat during the slaughtering of animals

• 2 main causes: 1) keeping foods warm for more than 20 minutes

2) inadequate refrigeration