Microbiology

Microbiology Study Guide

debates whether this species of microorganisms is not a protozoan but a fungus. Pneumocystis pneumonia is generally related to patients suffering from AIDS. About 50 percent of deaths among AIDS patients are due to pneumocystis pneumonia. This infection affects the lungs, causing severe consolidation, which can cause death. The disease takes its worst forms in individuals whose immune systems have been compromised. The disease is treated with the drug Pentamidine Isethionate. 5.2 Gastrointestinal Tract Diseases and Intoxications The organs in the human digestive system (known as the gastrointestinal tract) are responsible for consuming food, digesting it, extracting the necessary nutrients, and eliminating the unabsorbed waste. The main organs that form the gastrointestinal tract are the pharynx, oral cavity, stomach, esophagus, large and small intestines, and other supporting structures and glands like teeth, salivary glands, pancreas, and liver. A number of diseases caused by different microorganisms can compromise the functioning of these organs and the overall digestive system of the human body. Bacterial Diseases and Intoxications Typhoid Fever The gram-negative aerobic rod bacteria, Salmonella Typhi are responsible for causing typhoid fever. The disease is generally caused by consuming contaminated food and water. Major symptoms include high fever, skin rashes (known as rose spots), fatigue, confusion, and deliriousness. The disease is treated with the drug Chloramphenicol , and without proper antibiotics, the disease may cause death. In extreme cases, it leads to bleeding in the intestines and perforation of the intestine walls. Cholera The gram-negative rod bacteria with a single polar flagellum, Vibrio Cholerae, causes cholera. The disease is transmitted through consuming contaminated water. In this disease, the bacteria exotoxin sticks to host cells, which lead to the secretion of chloride, followed by water, sodium, and other electrolytes in the intestinal lumen of the body. In extreme cases, the disease is accompanied by diarrhea and dehydration, which can lead to death. The treatment of cholera is done through rehydration through oral medications and intravenous injections. Salmonellosis Salmonellosis is caused by gram-negative rods bacteria, from the species of Salmonella . The disease is transmitted from infections in water and food. Strains of this bacteria are seen in domestic fowls; it can be inferred that one of the causes of this infection is the consumption of chicken, eggs, and other poultry products. Two major species responsible are S. Enteritidis and S. choleraesuis, which move to the patient’s oral fecal passageway to cause the disease. Symptoms of the disease include nausea, high fever, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. Treatment with antibiotics is generally not required unless the disease becomes serious.

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