MICROBIOLOGY SUMMARY

S/N Microbe genus Shape Properties Species Diseases causing Diagnosis Key note Treatment
(med. Imp.)
1 Staphylococcus Gram +ve cocci arranged in Coagulase +ve or -ve S. aureus Nosocomial pneumonia Ferments mannitol Penicillin comb+
grapelike bunches Catalase +ve surgical sites infections Normal nasopharynx Cephalosporins
Non motile non spore forming Food poisoning microbiota Erythromycin
Facultative anaerobes Scalded skin syndrome MRSA by vancomycin
Endocarditis
S. epidermidis UTI in women Skin commensal Sensitive to many
S. saprophyticus
2 Streptococcus Gram +ve cocci in chains or Catalase -ve S. pneumoniae Pneumonia, bacteremia, Pneumolysin toxin OPD (erythromycin,
pairs Non motile non spore forming meningitis, otitis media amoxacillin)
Facult. Or obligate anaerobes In (cefuroxime or
ceftriaxone)
S. agalactiae Normal vaginal flora
B hemolysis
S. faecalis Normal enteric flora
Resist penicillin and
vancomycin
S. viridans Endocarditis following tooth Normal oropharynx flora
extraction (septicaemia)

S. pyogenes Tonsilitis or pharingitits B hemolysis

Otitis media
3 Mycobacterium Gram -ve rods Strictly aerobic acid fast rods M. tuberculosis Tuberculosis Resistant to penicillin and 3-9 months of 2-3
Has high G+C content M. bovis malachite green multidrug therapy:
M. africanum Rifampin, isoniazid,
streptomycin
M. leprae Leprosy/ Hansen's dsse Sulfones, phenazides,
rifampin
4 Haemophilus Gram -ve coccobaccilli Require X (Heamatin) and V Pyogenic meningitis in Satellitism test Normal nasopharynx flora Ceftriaxone, ampicillin,
(NAD) factors for growth. Spp children <5 Classified in to six serotypes amoxicillin, doxycycline
with prefix Para – require V Pneumonia and empyema in (a-f) based on p'sacch. Capsule
factor only for growth adults type. Type B is more lethal
Variable Catalase rxn Acute epiglottitis

5 Corynebacterium Gram +ve rods Normal flora of skin and nares C. diphtheria Acute resp. tract illness Swab from nose, Produces diphtheria toxin Antitoxin therapy
(nasopharynx) Myocarditis throat (exotoxin) Antibiotic therapy:
Aerobic or falc. Anaerobe Appear in V or L Ferment sugars prod. acid but penicillin and
Catalase +ve formations no gas erythromycin
DPT vaccine (Diphtheria
tetanus pertussis)
6 Listeria Gram +ve rods Grow in soil and water L. monocytogenes Listeriosis accomp. With CAMP test It can grow at 4C refrig. temp Ampicillin
Found in meat, refrig. foods, bacteraemia, septicaemia, Specimen: Blood, Prod Histolysin/ Listeriolysin-O Gentamicin
unpast. milk & cheese meningitis and wound CSF, vaginal secr, toxin Clotrimazole
Facultative intacellular infections meconium Weak B hemolysis (Cephalosporins
Gastroenteritis Catalase +ve unsuitable XX)
Ferments sugars
7 Neisseria Gram -ve diplococci Oxidase +ve N. gonorrheae Gonorrhea Asymptomatic esp in women Ceftriaxone
If left untreated in males, it Risk of infection: 50% women, Ciproflaxin
leads to prostitis and 20% men Doxycycline
epididymitis; in females it Has B lactamase that hydr. Azithromycin
leads to salpingitis, PID, B'lactam ring in penicillin
endometritis.. Antigenic str. (pilli, por, opa,
Vertical transm. Leads to rmp protns)
Gonoccocal ophthalmia
neonatorum

N. meningitidis Meningitis & Specimen: Normal nasopharynx I.V penicillin

meningococcemia Blood and CSF microbiota Chloramphenicol
(serogroup B and C) Produce acid from glucose & Erythromycin
Pneumonia (serogroup Y) maltose oxd) Ceftriaxone
Oxidase +ve
Catalase +ve
8 Brucella Gram -ve coccobacilli coagulase +ve or -ve B. abortus (cows) Serodiagnosis: no hemolysis Regimen A: Doxycycline
Catalase +ve B. melitenus (goats) - Acute brucellosis - Brucella spp show antigenic & rifampicin 6 weeks
Oxidase +ve most virulent pres of IgG & IgM cross rxn wth Salmonella, E. Regimen B:
Reduce nitrates B. suis (pigs) Chronic - pres of coli, V. cholerae, Y. Doxycycline 6wks &
Non motile non spore forming B. canis (dogs) IgG enterocolitica streptomycin 2-3wks
Facultative anaerobes ELISA, PCR, milk
ring test

9 Clostridium Gram +ve rods Obligate anaerobes C. pefringens Gas gangrene Nagler's rxn - to Capsulated Unable to penetrate
Spore forming Food poisoning detm. Alpha toxin Normal flora of human large dead tissues
Mostly motile by peritrichious Necrotizing enteritis of C. pefringens intestine Cover a combination of
flagella myonecrosis Subdiv. Into 5 groups based on penicillin, gentamicin
4 toxins they prod.. Type A and metranidazole
causing most human inf. Also, hperbaric oxygen
Non motile therapy
B hemolysis

C. tetani Tetanus Wound swab Non capsulated Human TIG with

Leads to muscular rigidity nd microscopy Spores - spherical, terminal penicillin or
spasms Animal with drum-stick appearance metranidazole
inoculation - rat Incub. P comm. 6-12 days
tail On BA, a hem then later B
hem due to tetanolysin

C. botulinum Food poisoning Animal I.P 12-36 hrs Penicillin or

inoculation - mice Spores - subterminal, oval metranidazole
Powerful exotoxin -
Neurotoxin (botox) which
temp reduces or eliminates
facial wrinkles
 C. difficile Acute colitis Cytotoxin or Difficult to isolate
enterotoxin Antibiotic associated diarhoea
detected in in 5-10 days
patient's faeces spores - larrge, oval,
subterminal

10 Bacillus Gram +ve rods Aerobe B. anthracis Anthrax No hemolysis Ciprofloxacin- drug of
Spore forming 3 Potent anthrax toxins; choice
Protective antigen (PA), Penicillin, erythromycin
Edema factor (EF), Lethal may be susceptible
factor (LF)
Forms: cutaneous (skin),
inhalation of spores and rare
GIT anthrax
Prod lecithinase
B. cereus Food poisoning in 2 forms: B hemolysis Resistant to penicillin
emetic form & diarrheal Prod heat stable enterotoxin
form and cytotoxin
11 Actinomyces Gram +ve rods Mostly facultative anaerobic Actinomycoses
Non spore forming Dental caries
Susc. To penicillin Periodontal diseases
Form long filamentous branches
like fungi
Morphologically identical to
Nocardia
Normal flora of resp, GIT and
female genital tracts
12 Lactobacillus Gram +ve rods Mostly facultative anaerobic Causes tooth cavities of
Non spore forming dentine
Normal flora of oral digestive
tract and genitourinary
tract(urethra)
Inhibit growth of several
bacterial spp eg G. vaginalis
13 Bacteroides Gram -ve bacilli Anaerobic B. fragilis Normal flora of upper
Non spore forming respiratory and GI tracts

14 Treponema Gram -ve though its cell T. pallidum Syphilis Specimen: Syphilis Benzathine Penicillin for
envelope differs from other serum Primary: chancre lesion on pr. & sec syphilis
gram -ve CSF (for scrotum, penis, vulva or cervix
neurosyphilis) Sec.: maculopapular lesions on Penicillin G for
body congenital and late
Tertiary: Gummas lesions (tertiary) syphilis
15 Borrelia Gram -ve Motile B. recurrentis Relapsing fever-endemic Specimen difficult to grow atrificially due Tetracycline &
louse-borne Blood to complex nutritional erythromycin
Endemic tick-borne relapsing requirements Doxycycline for children
fever Reservoir: lice & ticks & pregnant women
(Two or more episodes of Incub. Prd 7 days
high fever, headache, and Can undergo antigenic shift to
myalgia) escape from host immune

B. burgdoferi Occurs after tick bite

Flu like illness
16 Leptospira L. interrogans Leptospirosis Specimen Reservoir: livestock & dog Penicillin G or
Blood, CSF, urine Incub prd 2-20 days doxycycline

17 Bordetella Gram -ve coccobacilli Aerobic B. pertussis Paroxysmal cough Prod pertussis toxin Erythromycin
Transm via resp droplets by There's pertussis vaccine
a coughing victim
18 Gardnerella Aerobic G. vaginalis Bacterial vaginosis/ non- Gram variable/gram -ve Oral metranidazole
specific vaginosis (not Non spore forming (flagyl)
vaginitis due to lack of Non motile coccobacilli
inflammatory cells in vaginal Catalase -ve
discharge) B hemolysis
There's rotten fish smell
pH of vagn. Discharge is
more alkaline i.e 4.5..
Normal is <4.5
19 Legionella Gram -ve bacilli Long filamentous esp when L. pneumophila Pneumonia ( Legionnare’s Erythromycin,
grown on media disease) azithromycin,
Aerobic Pontiac fever ciprofloxacin
20 Escherichia Gram -ve rods Facultative anaerobes E. coli UTI Ferments glucose & lactose
Gastroenteritis Normal intestinal flora
Neonatal meningitis Oxidase -ve
Septicaemia Motile

21 Klebsiella K. pneumoniae Liver abscess

22 Proteus UTI
Bacteremia

Safety pin appearance Specimen in

Non lactose fermenter Bubonic plague Black death) plague: Blood, Transm. By rodents flea bite
Oxidase negative Septicaemic plague lymph node Reservoirs: squirrels, mice, Streptomycin i/m or
Catalase +ve Y. pestis Dysentery aspirate, sputum prairie dogs tetracycline orally
Indole -ve
Urease +ve exc.. Y. enterocolitica
23 Yersinia Gram -ve rods (pleomorphic) Motile by polar flagella Y. pseudotuberculosis
 UTI
Respiratory tract infections
Dermatitis Non lactose fermenter Aminoglcosides
Bacteremia Glucose oxidizer (gentamicin, amikacin)
Aerobic non spore forming Bone and joint infections esp Catalase +ve Polymycin
Pathogenic to plants, P. aeruginosa in the immunocompromised Oxidase +ve Colistin
opportunistic to man
Non capsulated Ulcerating tubercle like
Motile by polar flagella nodules in the lungs, lymph
24 Pseudomonas Gram -ve rods Resistant to many antibiotics P. mallei Glander nodes and mucous membrane
Associated with biofilm
Non motile, shows a slow Fluoroquinolones
twitching movt Polymycin
Pleomorphic - when Doxycycline
stationary, it resembls a Colistin (not authorized
Community acquired coccobacilli due to its side effects)
Inhabits water and soil Bronchiolitis and Oxidase -ve Resistant to
Not part of normal human body tracheobronchitis Catalase +ve aminogycosides, B
flora Hospital acquired Indole -ve lactams,
25 Acinetobacter Gram -ve rods Aerobic A. baumaanii pneumonia Don't reduce nitrate carbapenemase
26 Vibrio Gram -ve comma Most live in aquatics V. cholerae Cholera Non halophilic Azithromycin
Motile by single polar flagella V. cholerae O1 has 2 biotypes: Ciprofloxacin
Facultative anaerobe -Classical biotype (non hem,
Catalase +ve, oxidase +ve, res. To polymycin B)
reduce nitrate to nitrites - ElTor biotype (hemolytic,
Non lactose fermenter sensitive to polymycin B)
Prod acid from fermentatio of Cholera toxin resp for
aldehydes dehydration
Flagella H antigen
Somatic O antigen V. parahaemolyticus Bacterial gastroenteritis Halophilic Replacing lost fluids,
assoc wth bloody diarrhoea, Transm to humans through electrolytes
vomiting, abdominal pains, consumption of raw/ intravenously
etc undercooked sea foods Antibiotics to ones wth
(oysters, shellfish) severe dehydration -
Doxycyline 1st

V. vulnificus Vibrio septicaemia and Rod shaped

wound infections after
exposure to contam sea
foods
27 Chlamydia C. trachomatis Trachoma - inclusion Divided into 3 biovars Tetracycline
conjuctivitis (Biological variants) Erythromycin
Infant pneumonia A, B, Ba, C - trachoma Sulfonamides
Lympogranuloma venereum D - K - urogenital dsses
Urogenital infections L1-L3 - LGVenereum
(asympt in females) In neonates inf is due to
infected birth canal
 Chlamydophila Parrot fever Tetracycline
psittaci Erythromycin
Chlamydophila Pneumonia Tetracycline
pneumoniae Bronchitis Erythromycin
28 Salmonella Gram -ve rods Facultative aerobes S. typhi Typhoid accompanied with Specimen: stool, blood, urine Chloramphenical
Non lactose fermenter gastroenteritis, septicaemia Others: ciprofloxacin,
Indole -ve, citrate +ve, urea -ve and enteric fever, Widal test (antibody detection ceftriaxone
H2S produced by S. typhi, not sometimes typhoid ulcers test)
paratyphi Limitation: may be false +ve to
Inhibits E. coli, proteus and other patients who have had
intestine commensals previous vaccination or
Transovarian transmission by infection with Salmonella spp
poultry eggs

29 Mycoplasma Cell wall defective bacteria Lack cell wall, thus pleomorphic M. pneumoniae Mild upper respiratory tract Complement Erythromycin
Not stained with Gram, But disease fixation tests Tetracycline
stained with Dienes stain ELISA Fluoroquinolones
Resistant to penicillin, M. genitalium Non gonococcal urethritis
cephalosporins, vancomycin and M. urealyticum
antibiotics interfere with cell M. hominis PID, postpartum fever
wall
Facultative anaerobes (except
M. pneumoniae which is strictly
aerobe)
Form small colonies that have
"fried egg" appearance
except M. pneumoniae with
mulberry shaped colonies
Urease +ve

30 Rickettsia Gram -ve Stains poor wth gram stain, but R. rickettsii Rocky mountain spotted Ticks transmit this infection Doxycycline
best with giemsa or gimenez fever - ticks are main
stain reservoirs and vectors
Transm by arthropods - mites, R. akari Rickettsial pox - reservoir are Mites transmit this infection
ticks, lice rodents & mites
R. typhi Endemic typhus Fleas transmit this inf
31 Coxiella C. burnetii Agent for Q fever
Not transmitted by insects Doxycycline