#5 CAUSATIVE ORGANISM: Haemophilus influenzae Category: (i.e. bacteria, fungi, p
ID: 81060 • Letter: #
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#5
CAUSATIVE ORGANISM: Haemophilus influenzae Category: (i.e. bacteria, fungi, protozoa, virus) Gram Rxs if bacteria: (if not bacteria, indicate Not Applicable) Unique/key characteristics: (i.e. capsule, cysts, endospores, AND key morphological information) DISEASE(s): (Use technically accurate name & if applicable common name) Specifics regarding transmission mechanism (i.e. vehicle, vector, any relevant info) SIGNS & SYMPTOMS: (specify if differences between male & female symptoms; any key age groups affected) TREATMENT (specify drugs used; any key factors in successful treatment; any resistance issues; cure rate; age differences) PREVENTION: (include if vaccine or not & who to be vaccinated; specific precautions to prevent contracting/spreading)Explanation / Answer
1. Category: Bacteria, Gram RXS: Gram negative, Key characteristics: Coccobacillary.
2. Diseases:Haemophilus influenzae are generally present in the host without causing disease and cause problems only when other factors (such as a viral infection, reduced immune function or chronically inflamed tissues, e.g. from allergies) create an opportunity. The common diseases caused are bacteremia, pneumonia, epiglotitis, and acute bacterial meningitis and sometimes cellulitis, osteomyelitis and infectious arthiritis. Transmission of H. influenzae occurs person-to-person through respiratory droplets that occur when someone who has the bacteria in their nose or throat coughs or sneezes.
3. Sign and symptoms: Clinical features may include initial symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection appearing like a viral infection, usually associated with low-grade fevers. Within a few days, this may progress to the lower respiratory tract, with features often similar to wheezy bronchitis. Sputum may be difficult to expectorate and is often grey or creamy in color. The cough may persist for weeks without appropriate treatment.
Treatment: The preffered choice of drug is cefotaxime and ceftriaxone (Cephalosporine antibiotic) which are given directly into the blood stream in severe conditions. H. influenzaea has gained resistance to the penicillin antibiotics because it produces beta lactamases (break the beta lactam ring of penicillin) and also able to modify penicillin binding proteins.
Prevention: Effective vaccines for Haemophilus influenzae type B have been available since the early 1990s, and is recommended for children under age 5 and asplenic patients (abnormal spleen function). WHO recommends pentavelent vaccine (combined vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B and H.influenzae b). Since this bacteria spread through coughing and sneezing, a mask wearing could be a better prevention.
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