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Staphylococci: Characteristics and Pathogenicity

Staphylococci are Gram-positive cocci that occur in clusters and can be classified based on coagulase production and pathogenicity. They can cause a range of infections, including skin and soft tissue infections, respiratory issues, and food poisoning, with Staphylococcus aureus being a common pathogen. Treatment often involves antibiotics, but drug resistance, particularly with Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), poses significant challenges.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
4 views42 pages

Staphylococci: Characteristics and Pathogenicity

Staphylococci are Gram-positive cocci that occur in clusters and can be classified based on coagulase production and pathogenicity. They can cause a range of infections, including skin and soft tissue infections, respiratory issues, and food poisoning, with Staphylococcus aureus being a common pathogen. Treatment often involves antibiotics, but drug resistance, particularly with Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), poses significant challenges.

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basima.a
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: Staphylococci are

,Gram positive cocci-


,Occur in grape like clusters-
.They are non motile and non sporing-
A few strains possess capsules-
Produce pigments-
:Cultural Characteristics
i) On nutrient agar- The colonies are large,
,circular
convex, smooth, shiny, opaque . Most strains
.produce golden yellow pigments
ii) On MacConkey’s agar- The colonies are small
.& pink in colour
iii) On blood agar- Most strains produce β-
.haemolytic colonies
:CLASSIFICATION
:A) Based on coagulase production
Coagulase positive: Eg- S. aureus .1
Coagulase negative: Eg- S. epidermidis .2
S. saprophyticus

:B) Based on pathogenicity


Common pathogen: Eg- S. aureus .1
:Opportunistic pathogens .2
Eg- S. epidermidis ,S. saprophyticus
Non pathogen: Eg- S. homonis .3
:CULTURE

-: Media used

,i) Non selective media: Nutrient agar


,Blood agar
.MacConkey’s agar

,ii) Selective media: Salt-milk agar


:Biochemical reactions

.Catalase test- Positive )1


-Coagulase test )2
.i) Slide coagulase test- Positive
.ii) Tube coagulase test- Positive

SLIDE COAGULASE TEST TUBE COAGULASE TEST


.Reduces nitrate to nitrite )3

Ferments mannitol anaerobically with acid )4


.only

.Urea hydrolysis test- Positive )5

.Gelatin liquefaction test- Positive )6

.Produces Lipase )7

.Produces Phosphatase )8

.Produces nuclease )9
:PATHOGENICITY

:Source of infection
A) Exogenous: patients or carriers
B) Endogenous: From colonized site

:Mode of transmission
A) Contact: direct or indirect( through fomites)
B) Inhalation of air borne droplets
:Virulence factors

These include

A) Cell associated factors

B) Extracellular factors
:A) CELL ASSOCIATED FACTORS

a) Cell associated polymers


b) Cell surface proteins

a) CELL ASSOCIATED POLYMERS


Cell wall polysaccharide .1
Teichoic acid .2
Capsular polysaccharide .3

:b) CELL SURFACE PROTEINS


Protein A .1
Clumping factor (bound coagulase) .2
Structure of Staphylococcal cell wall
B) EXTRACELLULAR FACTORS

a) Enzymes

b) Toxins
:a) Enzymes
Free coagulase .1
Catalase .2
Lipase .3
Hyaluronidase .4
DNAase .5
Thermonuclease .6
Staphylokinase (Fibrinolysin) .7
Phosphatase .8
:b) Toxins
Cytolytic toxins .1
i) Haemolysins
Alpha haemolysin
Beta haemolysin
Gamma haemolysin
Delta haemolysin
ii) Leucocidin (Panton-Valentine toxin)

Enterotoxin .2

Toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST) .3

Exfoliative (epidermolytic toxin) .4


.
:Disease

Diseases produced by Staphylococcus aureus


:is studied under 2 groups

A) Infections

B) Intoxications
:A) INFECTIONS

:Mechanism of pathogenesis

Cocci gain access to damaged skin, mucosal or


tissue site

Colonize by adhering to cells or extracellular


matrix

Evade the host defense mechanisms and


multiply

Cause tissue damage


:Common Staphylococcal infections are
Skin and soft tissue: Folliculitis, furuncle (boil), )1
carbuncle, styes, abscess, wound infections,
.impetigo, and less often cellulitis

Folliculitis

Folliculitis
Furuncle
(boil)

Carbuncle
Styes Abscess
Impetigo Paronychia

Wound infection Cellulitis


.Musculoskeletal: Osteomyelitis, arthritis )2

Respiratory: Tonsillitis, pharyngitis, sinusitis, )3


otitis, bronchopneumonia, lung abscess, rarely
.pneumonia
Central nervous system: Abscess, )4
.,meningitis

Endovascular: Bacteremia, septicemia, )5


,pyemia, endocarditis

.Urinary: Urinary tract infection )6


:B) INTOXICATIOINS

,The disease is caused by the bacterial exotoxins


which are produced either in the infected host
.or preformed in vitro

-There are 3 types

Food poisoning
Toxic shock syndrome
Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome
:Food poisoning )1

Enterotoxin is responsible for manifestations 

.of staphylococcal food poisoning

Eight types of enterotoxin are currently 

.known, named A, B, C1-3, D, E, and H

It usually occurs when preformed toxin is 

.ingested with contaminated food

The toxin acts directly on the autonomic 


nervous system to cause the illness, rather
.than gut mucosa
The common food items responsible are - milk 
.and milk products, meat, fish and ice cream

Source of infection- food handler who is a 


.carrier

.Incubation period- 2 to 6 hours 

Clinical symptoms- nausea, vomiting and 


.diarrhoea

The illness is usually self limited, with recovery 


.in a day or so
:Staphylococcal Toxic shock syndrome (STSS) )2

STSS is associated with infection of mucosal or 

sequestered sites by TSST( formerly known as


.enterotoxin type F) producing [Link]

It is fatal multisystem disease presenting with 

fever, hypotension, myalgia, vomiting,


diarrhoea, mucosal hyperemia and
erythematous rash which desquamates
.subsequently
Staphylococcal scalded skin )3
:syndrome (SSSS)

Exfoliative toxin produced by [Link] is 


.responsible for this

It is a skin disease in which outer layer of 


epidermis gets separated from the underlying
.tissues
:LAB DIAGNOSIS

Specimens collected: Depends on the type of


.infection

,Suppurative lesion- Pus

,Respiratory infection- Sputum

,Bacteremia & septicemia- Blood

Food poisoning- Feces, vomit & the remains of


,suspected food

.For the detection of carriers- Nasal swab


Methods of examination:
:I) Direct microscopy

Direct microscopy with


Gram stained smear
is useful in case of
pus, where cocci in
.clusters are seen
II) Culture:

a) Media used:

b) Cultural Characteristics:

c) Gram staining:
Smears are
examined from the
culture plate and
reveals Gram
positive cocci(1μm in
diameter) arranged
.in grape like clusters
:d) Biochemical reactions

III) Antibiotic sensitivity tests done as a guide to


. treatment

IV) Bacteriophage typing is done for


.epidemiological purposes

.V) Serological tests are not useful


:TREATMENT
.Drug resistance is common
Benzyl penicillin is the most effective antibiotic,
.if the strain is sensitive
Cloxacillin or Methicillin is used against
.beta-lactamase producing strains
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
.(MRSA) strains have become common
Vancomycin is used in treatment of infections
.with MRSA strains
:EPIDEMIOLOGY

Staphylococci are primary parasites of human


.beings and animals

Hospital infections caused by staphylococci


deserve special attention because of their
frequency & they are caused by strains
.resistant to various antibiotics

Staphylococci are the common cause of


postoperative wound infection and other
.hospital cross infections
:PREVENTION

.Isolation & treatment of MRSA patients

Detection of carriers among hospital staff, their


.isolation & treatment

.Avoid indiscriminate usage of antibiotics


:Coagulase Negative Staphylococci( CoNS )

Two species of coagulase negative


-Staphylococci can cause human infections

Staphylococcus epidermidis .1

Staphylococcus saprophyticus .2
:S. Epidermidis

.It is a common cause of stitch abscesses

It has predilection for growth on implanted


foreign bodies such as artificial valves,
shunts, intravascular catheters and prosthetic
.appliances leading to bacteraemia

In persons with structural abnormalities of


.urinary tract, it can cause cystitis

Endocarditis may be caused, particularly in


.drug addicts
:[Link]

It causes urinary tract infections, mostly in


.sexually active young women

The infection is symptomatic and may involve


.the upper urinary tract also

.Men are infected much less often

It is one of the few frequently isolated CoNS that


.is resistant to Novobiocin
Novobiocin sensitivity test
THANK
YOU

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