Microbiology

Microbiology Study Guide

Legionnaires’ Disease The gram-negative rod bacterium, Legionella pneumophila, is responsible for causing Legionnaires’ disease. The organism is developed in accumulated water and is transmitted through airborne wind breezes. Symptoms of the disease include high fever, consolidation in the lungs, and pneumonia. Treatment for this disease is erythromycin. Meningococcal Meningitis The gram-negative diplococcus bacterium belonging to the species of Neisseria meningitides is responsible for causing meningococcal meningitis. The organism is transmitted through droplets from the respiratory system and penetrates through the nasopharynx of an infected person. Symptoms of the disease include severe headache, high fever, stiffness in the neck, chills, and spotting of blue-black color over the skin surface. Diagnosis is done by examining the cerebrospinal fluid for the presence of the organism causing this disease. Treatment is possible through proper drug therapy using penicillin. Chlamydial Pneumonia The bacterium belonging to the species of Chlamydia pneumonia is the main cause of chlamydial pneumonia. Symptoms of the disease are similar to those of influenza. Chlamydial pneumonia is treated using proper drug therapy, including tetracycline. Psittacosis A very tiny bacterium, the size of 0.25 μm, belonging to the species of Chlamydia psittaci, is associated with causing psittacosis. The organism generally infects parakeets, parrots, and other psittacine birds. The organism is transmitted to human beings through airborne droplets. Symptoms of the disease include high fever, headache, and consolidation in lungs; pneumonia is also observed. Treatment for psittacosis is tetracycline. Viral Diseases Common Cold There are a number of viruses that have the ability to infect and cause common cold infections. The most common include different species of adenoviruses, coronaviruses, and rhinoviruses . Major symptoms among individuals suffering from the common cold include sneezing, discharge from the nose, cough, and congestion. In extreme cases, the infection canmove to the ear and cause an infection in the middle ear. Antiviral therapies are generally not successful, but a physician may prescribe medications to ease patients’ symptoms. Influenza The virus that causes influenza has a complex structure. It has about eight stands, is wounded helically, resides in a capsid, and has spikes over its envelope. Depending on the chemical character of the spikes, the virus has the ability to cause different strains of influenzas. Symptoms of the disease include muscle aches and respiratory issues. In extreme cases, the virus may cause death. Treatment

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