Microorganisms and Disease - Medical Science

Q1:

Pseudomembraneous colitis is

A precipitated by the use of certain antibiotics

B caused by a gram-positive bacterium

C caused by a spore-forming bacterium

D all of the above

ANS:D - all of the above

Clostridium difficile is a Gram-positive, spore-forming, anaerobic rod, manifests first as diarrhea and develops into "pseudomemranous colitis" also known as "antibiotic-associated colitis" because it follows antibiotic therapy to treat other bacterial infections.

Produce 2 toxins: Toxin A (an enterotoxin) causes fluid accumulation and damage the mucosa of the large bowel.

Toxin B: A cytotoxin that causes cytoskeltel changes and then kills mucosal cells.