NURS 3110 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Anthrax Toxin, Facultative Anaerobic Organism, Gas Gangrene
Document Summary
Bacillus anthracis (anthrax: aerobic or facultative anaerobes, not major concern in us, more used as agent of biological warfare. Clostridium perfringens: will see in clinical setting, problems with vascular flow, diabetic patients, blood flow impeded, obligate anaerobe. Can go from vegetative to complete sporulation: not black or white, in wound will find mix, anaerobic proliferating (live, vegetative cells) in dead tissue, predominant spores: outside host body, organism trying to survive. Bacillus anthracis (anthrax: pathogenesis, primarily disease of animals, humans rarely affected. Imported goods, leather, wool from countries where anthrax is prevalent. Individuals from these countries at risk for pulmonary anthrax: spores enter via injured skin or mucosa, necrotic ulcer with edema. Greenish/black is not normal healing process/scab formation. Necrotic tissue, wound will need to be debrided. Spore inhaled, settles in lungs (favorable environment), macrophage deaths gets into lymph nodes. Can cause thrombosis, cardiovascular shock at high levels of toxins, high rate of mortality: agent of biological warfare.
